Zamalek step up preparations as Abdallah El Said and Chico Banza continue rehabilitation

Zamalek continued preparations for the new season on Saturday as Abdallah El Said and Angolan forward Chico Banza underwent individual rehabilitation work during the club’s training session at the Air Defence Stadium’s secondary pitch.

The session formed part of the second phase of Zamalek’s pre-season programme, with the squad returning to collective training after being given Friday off following the conclusion of their camp in the New Administrative Capital.

Head coach Moataz Gamal held a meeting with the players before training began. He encouraged the squad to remain focused and give maximum effort, while also outlining a number of technical points that were put into practice during the session.

The work was conducted ahead of Zamalek’s friendly against Modern Sport, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

El Said and Chico Banza followed a separate rehabilitation programme on the sidelines. The club’s technical staff have designed the programme to prepare both players for a return to full team training.

The rest of the squad began with a physical conditioning session led by Portuguese fitness coach Nuno Costa Ribeiro. It included a range of fitness exercises, followed by a light ball-based drill.

The players were then divided into groups for technical and tactical exercises. Gamal and his coaching staff gave instructions throughout that part of the session as they worked on the details required for the team’s upcoming fixtures.

Zamalek finished the day with a small-sided tactical game, allowing the players to apply the movements and ideas covered during the earlier tactical work.

The club are using their pre-season schedule to build fitness and improve tactical understanding before the competitive campaign begins. Their next friendly against Modern Sport will provide another opportunity for the squad to continue that process.

Zamalek will open their Premier League campaign against Al Ittihad Alexandria on Friday, 21 August. The match is due to be played at Cairo International Stadium.

The meeting with Al Ittihad Alexandria is the first fixture identified in Zamalek’s league schedule, while the weekend friendly against Modern Sport is intended to support the team’s preparations before the start of the domestic season. Progress on the rehabilitation programmes for El Said and Chico Banza will also be monitored as the technical staff assess when the pair can resume full training with their team-mates.