Zamalek begin recovery training after goalless Al Ittihad Alexandria draw

Zamalek resumed training on Sunday evening, with the players involved in their opening Egyptian Premier League match against Al Ittihad Alexandria completing recovery exercises to reduce the risk of fatigue.

The session took place on the secondary pitch at Air Defense Stadium after the squad had been given time away from training following the opening fixture.

Head coach Moataz Gamal held a meeting with the players before the work began, outlining the technical aspects that would be addressed during the session. The discussion was focused on the team’s preparations and the exercises planned for the evening.

Players who featured in the match against Al Ittihad Alexandria were given a lighter programme designed specifically to support recovery. The coaching staff opted for restorative work rather than a demanding physical session because of the possibility of fatigue after the opening league game.

The substitutes and those who were not included in the matchday squad, however, completed a more intensive physical workout. Their programme was designed to maintain their fitness levels and provide them with a stronger training load than the players who had played.

Nuno Costa, Zamalek’s fitness coach, supervised the physical section of the session. It began with the players running around the pitch before moving on to a series of light ball exercises.

The squad then took part in a technical segment, during which the coaching staff worked on a number of tactical patterns and technical combinations. The session formed part of Zamalek’s preparations for their second league fixture.

Zamalek opened their Egyptian Premier League campaign with a goalless draw against Al Ittihad Alexandria. Neither side found the net in the first-round fixture, leaving both teams with a point.

The Cairo-based club will next face National Bank of Egypt at Cairo Stadium in the second round of the Egyptian Premier League. Their preparations for that match have now resumed after the brief break following the opening game.

The training arrangements reflected the different workloads within the squad. Those who played against Al Ittihad Alexandria concentrated on recovery, while the substitutes and players left out of the match worked through a tougher physical programme before joining the technical exercises.

Moataz Gamal’s meeting with the squad at the start of the session also provided the framework for the work that followed, with the players then split according to their involvement in the opening fixture. Zamalek’s focus is now on improving their performance and securing a first league victory when they meet National Bank of Egypt at Cairo Stadium.