Zamalek begin pre-season preparations after 73-day break

Zamalek began their preparations for the new season on Saturday with their first training session in 73 days, working at Al-Nadi Club Stadium in Egypt’s New Capital as they prepare for a demanding domestic and African campaign.

The first-team squad returned to group training after a period of rest following the conclusion of last season, when Zamalek were crowned Egyptian league champions. Their most recent gathering had been for the league finale against Ceramica Cleopatra.

Head coach Moataz Gamal welcomed the players at the start of the session and urged them to remain focused as preparations got under way. Zamalek are expected to face a busy schedule in the coming campaign, with the club set to compete in a significant number of domestic and African tournaments.

Saturday’s work was designed in particular to increase the players’ physical workload after their time away from football. The coaching staff began the process of rebuilding their fitness levels as the squad returned to structured preparation for the new season.

All players are also due to undergo physical measurements and medical examinations as part of the opening phase of the preparations. The assessments are intended to establish the players’ condition before the training programme progresses.

The Egyptian Premier League season is scheduled to begin on 21 August. The draw for the new campaign will take place on Wednesday, 5 August.

Zamalek’s return to training marks the formal start of their attempt to build on last season’s league success. The players’ first session was held at the club’s training base in the New Capital, with the coaching staff beginning both the physical preparation and organisational work required ahead of the new campaign.

The 73-day absence from collective training followed the end of last season and the team’s final league fixture against Ceramica Cleopatra. Saturday’s session therefore represented the first opportunity for the squad to work together again under Gamal as they began the transition from the previous campaign to the next one.

The immediate priority was to restore the players’ fitness after the break, while the wider schedule will become clearer following the league draw on 5 August. With the domestic season beginning later that month, Zamalek have a limited period in which to complete their preparations.

The club’s opening training session also came after their league triumph, giving the squad a fresh starting point under Gamal. His message to the players was to concentrate from the beginning of the preparation period, with the number of competitions ahead placing emphasis on their readiness for the season.