Emad El Nahhas denies son’s registration dispute led to Al Masry departure

Emad El Nahhas has rejected suggestions that his departure from Al Masry was linked to a dispute over his wish to register his son at the club.

El Nahhas left his position as Al Masry’s head coach after the club’s opening three matches of the Egyptian Premier League season. He said the club’s board had told him that the team’s performances had not been good enough, but insisted that he accepted the decision as one made in the club’s best interests.

Speaking to MBC Masr 2, El Nahhas said: “Al Masry’s management informed me that the team’s performance was not the best. I told the management that you had certainly made a decision in the club’s interest.”

However, he claimed that criticism directed at him after the announcement of his departure was unfair and appeared to have been coordinated.

“I felt that the attack against me was not normal but directed, just 15 minutes after the announcement of my departure, and it was said to be because my son had not been registered,” he added.

El Nahhas explained that he had wanted to bring his son to Al Masry in July, but said the proposal was dismissed almost immediately because of concerns that his selection would be viewed as favouritism.

“I wanted to bring my son to Al Masry last July, but the matter was closed in five minutes because of the pressure that he is my son and so on, despite the presence of one of the sons of a board member of Al-Mareekh Port Said,” he said.

El Nahhas also said he had previously been responsible for his son’s departure from Al Ahly, with the intention of helping him secure more regular opportunities elsewhere.

“I was the reason for his departure from Al Ahly so that he could get a better chance at another team,” he said.

The former Al Masry manager questioned whether the board’s decision had been motivated by an expectation that the club should win the league title.

“If the management’s objective was to win the league, and that is why I left after losing to Pyramids FC, then they should say so publicly,” El Nahhas said.

El Nahhas took charge of Al Masry before the end of last season and guided the club to victory in the Egypt Capital Cup. It was the first trophy added to the club’s honours since their Egyptian Cup success in 1998.

He became the first manager to leave his club in the current Egyptian Premier League campaign.

Al Masry began the season with a 1-0 victory over Smouha before beating Al Mokawloon Al Arab 3-2. They then suffered a 1-0 defeat by Pyramids FC.

The club are preparing for their 7 September fixture involving Suez SC and Petrojet in the fourth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

Al Masry will also compete in the Egyptian Super Cup for only the second time in their history, with the tournament scheduled to take place in December.