Zamalek assistant coach defends youngsters after heavy Capital Cup defeat

Zamalek assistant coach Ahmed Rizk has defended the club’s young players following their 3-0 defeat to ZED in the opening round of the Capital Cup group stage.

The Cairo giants suffered the heavy loss at the Arab Contractors Stadium on Wednesday evening, but Rizk believes the result must be considered in the context of the team’s limited preparation time.

According to the assistant coach, Zamalek had just two days to prepare for the encounter, while several players only joined the training camp less than 24 hours before kick-off.

A number of the youngsters involved had recently been representing Egypt at youth level. Some were with the U-20 national team at the North African tournament, while others had returned from Switzerland after featuring for Egypt’s U-17 side in a friendly tournament.

“The team prepared for the ZED match in the Capital Cup tournament only two days before the match, and there are many players who joined the camp less than 24 hours before the match,” Rizk said.

Despite the disappointing scoreline, Rizk praised the young players for accepting the challenge and called on the Zamalek supporters to remain patient as they continue their development.

“I thank the players, and this is just the beginning for them. They are the future of the club, and I urge everyone to support them, especially the Zamalek fans,” he added.

Rizk also highlighted Zamalek’s history of giving academy players opportunities in the first team, stressing that the club remains committed to developing its young talents rather than judging them harshly after a single performance.

“There is no evaluation of a player based on one match,” he said.

The assistant coach specifically backed Ahmed Safwat and Hossam Ashour to improve as they gain more experience at senior level, insisting that their performances should be assessed over a longer period.

For Rizk, the defeat to ZED should therefore be viewed as part of the learning process for a group of players still adapting to senior football.

Zamalek’s ambitions, he stressed, have not changed despite the setback, with the club continuing to compete for trophies while integrating promising youngsters into the first-team setup.

The Cairo club won the league title last season while also giving opportunities to several young players, and Rizk believes the latest generation can follow the same path and eventually become key members of the senior squad.

The 3-0 defeat may have exposed areas that require improvement, but Zamalek’s coaching staff remain prepared to continue giving the youngsters opportunities while demanding greater consistency and stronger performances in the matches ahead.