Chico Banza to return to Zamalek before Egyptian Premier League begins

Angolan winger Chico Banza has told Zamalek he will return to Cairo on Saturday, 15 August, and join the club’s training programme less than a week before the start of the new Egyptian Premier League season.

Banza has been absent from Zamalek’s training camp in the Administrative Capital, which began on 1 August. The player has now informed the club that he plans to arrive in Cairo on the morning of Saturday, allowing him to link up with the squad ahead of the opening league fixture.

Zamalek previously announced that financial penalties would be imposed on players who missed training without exception. The club’s decision applies to all absent players, including those who have not been involved in the team’s preparations during the current camp.

Banza joined Zamalek at the start of last season and helped the club win the league title. He made 33 appearances for the team, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

His return comes as Zamalek completes its preparations for the beginning of its title defence. The club will play its second friendly match of the current build-up on Thursday against Orange at El Nady Club Stadium.

Zamalek began its series of warm-up fixtures with a 3-0 victory over Plastics. The team will conclude its friendly schedule against Modern Sport on Sunday, 16 August, at the secondary pitch of Cairo Stadium.

The Egyptian Premier League is scheduled to begin on Friday, 21 August, with Zamalek facing Al Ittihad Al Sakandary in its opening match. The fixture will mark the start of Zamalek’s campaign to defend the league title.

Zamalek will finish the first round of the competition against Canal. The club is due to play 12 first-round matches at Cairo Stadium.

The first round is scheduled to run until 20 February. The second phase will begin on 8 March, with the league scheduled to finish on 28 May.

Those dates remain subject to possible changes to the May calendar because of the finals of continental competitions, as explained by Taha Ezzat, chairman of the competitions committee.