Hesham Nasr, the vice president of Zamalek, emphasized the inclusion of foreign referees among the proposals for the upcoming match against Al Ahly in the Egyptian Cup final.
As Zamalek prepares to face Al Ahly on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Stadium, the club’s leadership explores various measures to ensure a fair game.
Speaking to OnTime Sports 2, Nasr stated, “The inclusion of foreign referees in the Egyptian Cup final was among the proposals, but the final decision lies with the Football Association. We have full confidence in Egyptian referees.”
Despite the Football Association nominating Mohamed Maarouf to officiate the cup final, there is internal momentum within the association to consider bringing in a foreign refereeing team, as reported by FilGoal.com.
Meanwhile, amidst discussions about the match’s officiating, Zamalek’s captain Shikabala’s contract renewal has drawn attention. Nasr affirmed, “Shikabala is one of the best players in the history of Egyptian football, deserving multiples of his current earnings.”
The official renewal of Mahmoud Abdel Razek “Shikabala’s” contract with Zamalek underscores the club’s recognition of his leadership and talent.
Shikabala began his journey with Zamalek in 2002, rising from the club’s youth academy to the first team. Over the years, he has had stints with various clubs, including PAOK in Greece and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, before returning to Zamalek in 2015.
Throughout his career, spanning multiple loan spells and international ventures, Shikabala, now 37 years old, has showcased his prowess on the field, participating in 368 matches across different competitions, scoring 68 goals, and providing 86 assists.
His contributions have been instrumental in Zamalek’s success, with the club securing 13 official titles during his tenure.
