Goalkeeping coach departure deepens Zamalek divisions before Egyptian Super Cup

Zamalek management sparked fresh turmoil right before the team’s trip for the Egyptian Super Cup in the UAE.

In a surprise move, they dismissed goalkeeping coach Ayman El Tawil from his duties, revealing deep internal disagreements and leaving the technical staff in a tough position. Tawil, angered by the decision, left the club with disappointment.

According to club sources, El Tawil was asked for his passport as a routine part of preparations for the trip. However, the night before the delegation left, he was suddenly told he would not travel with the team, a move that deeply wounded him emotionally. Tawil had led Zamalek’s keepers during a challenging recent match, and did not expect to be sidelined.

El Tawil is said to be “extremely upset” and feels the dismissal was unfair, especially given his commitment after previous staff changes. The decision went against head coach Ahmed Abdel Raouf’s wishes, who wanted to retain Tawil’s expertise for the team.

In response, Zamalek quickly appointed two Portuguese staff members: Vitor Pereira as goalkeeping coach and Costa Ribeiro as fitness coach. Both arrived in Abu Dhabi to join the squad’s preparations.

Meanwhile, FIFA announced a registration ban on Zamalek due to new legal claims, adding pressure to a club already grappling with internal and external crises.