Zamalek coach José Gomez firm on decision to part ways with four players, rejecting club recommendations

José Gomez, the Portuguese head coach of Zamalek’s first team, has reaffirmed his decision regarding four players on the squad, disregarding the club management’s recommendations to give them another opportunity with the team.

Gomez recently presented an updated report to Zamalek officials, which reaffirms his stance on Saif Jaafar, Mohab Yasser, Samson Akinola, and Mohamed Atef, and outlines his final decision on their future.

A source close to Zamalek confirmed that Gomez has rejected the administration’s suggestion to reintegrate the quartet into the first team’s plans.

Gomez reiterated in his report that he opposes calls from some board members who urged the club to give these players a chance to feature in the upcoming games.

Gomez has made it clear that he is firm on his assessment, noting that the four players are no longer in his plans.

He has recommended their departure from the squad and excluded them from all collective training sessions. Instead, the players have been training individually, separated from the main team activities.

In his report to the board, Gomez highlighted that these players do not fit into his vision for the squad moving forward.

According to the report, there is “no possibility” for Jaafar, Yasser, Akinola, and Atef to make future appearances with the team, emphasizing that they have been permanently excluded from his tactical considerations.

The Zamalek quartet’s future was called into question when they did not appear in the club’s opening match of the Nile League against National Bank, a match that ended with a narrow 3-2 victory for Zamalek.

As the team gears up for their next fixture against Smouha on Friday, the players’ absence from the lineup appears to solidify Gomez’s stance on their departure.

Despite calls from within the club’s administration for a review, Gomez remains steadfast in his decision, focusing on his long-term strategy and signaling a clear direction for Zamalek’s squad composition as they continue the season.