Ghazl El Mahalla president backs squad and coach as club sit bottom of Egyptian Premier League

Ghazl El Mahalla president and football company chairman Waleed Khalil has called for unity and support around the club as they attempt to recover from a difficult start to the Egyptian Premier League campaign.

Ghazl El Mahalla are bottom of the table after six matches, having collected only one point. They have lost five games, drawn one, scored once and conceded 10 goals.

Writing on his personal Facebook page, Khalil said the club needed everyone to stand behind the team rather than focus on criticism.

“Difficult times always reveal the value of solidarity and genuine belonging to the club,” he said. “Ghazl El Mahalla today desperately need everyone to stand together behind the team so that we can get through this difficult period and return to the position our historic club deserves.”

Khalil also expressed his confidence in the players, coaching staff and administrators, as well as everyone involved in the club’s operations.

“I affirm that we have complete confidence in our players, our technical and administrative staff, and all elements of the working structure within the club,” he said. “This confidence comes from our belief in their abilities and potential, and in their capacity to correct the course and restore the team to its normal position.”

He acknowledged that some decisions and choices might not have produced the desired results, but said that did not mean every decision had been wrong or that those responsible had deliberately failed in their duties.

“We may not always be successful with some choices or decisions, and that is possible and common in football at every club,” Khalil said. “But that does not necessarily mean that all the choices were wrong, or that there was deliberate negligence by those responsible.”

Khalil added that the board shared the supporters’ concern for the club and would act if changes became necessary.

“We on the board are part of the supporters before anything else,” he said. “We are committed to the club’s interests and stability, and we will not hesitate to take any corrective decision whenever circumstances require it.”

However, he urged supporters and other parties to avoid personal attacks and accusations.

“What we need at the moment is not an exchange of accusations, attacks on individuals or questioning their integrity,” he said. “No one will benefit from such practices, and our club will be the only loser.”

Khalil concluded: “Our trust in God is great, and our confidence in the men of Ghazl El Mahalla will not change. God willing, we are capable of overcoming this setback. Ghazl El Mahalla is bigger than everyone, and its interests must always come first.”

Ghazl El Mahalla face Al Ittihad Alexandria on Wednesday, 21 October, in the seventh round of the league.

The team are managed by Khaled Galal, who succeeded Ahmed Khattab after Khattab was dismissed following four matches.