Zamalek chairman Hussein Labib rates board four out of 10 and admits he would change its make-up

Zamalek chairman Hussein Labib says he would alter the composition of the club’s board if given the chance to go back in time, and has rated its performance at four out of 10.

Labib also said he would not currently support the return of Zizo, while confirming that his relationship with the Al Ahly board remains intact.

Speaking to On Sport, Labib rejected suggestions that the failure to translate a FIFA letter was at the centre of the dispute involving Abdelhamid Maali.

“Not translating the FIFA letter is not the crisis in the Abdelhamid Maali case,” he said.

“We appealed against the punishment, then reached a settlement agreement with the player and sent it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. We asked for the disciplinary punishment to be suspended, but the court rejected that request even after the player’s dues had been paid. Nothing was mentioned about the translation.”

Zamalek are hoping their registration ban will be lifted in time to sign players during the January transfer window.

“We hope the disciplinary registration ban on signing players in January will be cancelled,” Labib said. “We are trying as much as possible. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to set a date, but no date has been fixed yet.”

Labib also explained the club’s struggles in the indoor sports departments, saying the situation he inherited included a lack of teams, coaches and youth players.

“Why was there failure in the indoor sports? Because when we arrived, we found no team, coaches or youth players,” he said. “Coaches and players were brought in incorrectly, but we have started the path back again.”

He said no current board member had asked him for advice about the club’s next election and that it was too early to say which presidential candidate he would support.

“It is too early to announce my support for a candidate for the club presidency, but I will announce my position in the future,” Labib said.

The chairman also confirmed that Zamalek has its own electronic application, although it is operated by a company working under the supervision of the board.

Asked a series of quick questions, Labib identified the withdrawal of the club’s October land as his worst day at Zamalek. He named Omar Gaber as the player most devoted to the club and said his most important decision was suspending Ahmed Fattouh, Mohamed Sobhi and Mostafa El-Zenari.

He repeated that he would change the board’s membership if he could, and said one or three board members were not in agreement with the rest of the board.

Labib selected Imam Ashour as the biggest loss among Zizo, Imam Ashour and Achraf Bencharki, and said: “I will not agree to Zizo returning again.”

Labib became Zamalek president in October 2023 after receiving 15,229 votes, the second-highest total among the candidates.