Zamalek Shifts Hazem Imam Back to the Academy as Ferreira’s foreign-led setup causes friction
24 October 2025
Shift in Roles at a Historic Club
After a brief spell with the first team under Belgian coach Yanick Ferreira, Zamalek's board decided to revert Hazem Imam, the former youth sector coach, to his original post within the academy.
Imam had formally apologized for continuing in the first team's setup, stating he could not see a clear role within the foreign-led staff.
The move comes amid a growing sense of marginalization, with Imam not regularly attending trainings for over a month, giving the impression of a mere guest rather than an influential decision-maker.
Sources inside the club emphasize that the main friction lies in Ferreira's preference for his foreign assistants, often sidelining suggestions from Egyptian coaches, including Imam.
Imam had attempted to share technical views, especially about squad selection and playing style, drawing on his deep knowledge of Egyptian football and Zamalek's players.
Ferreira reportedly did not respond to these suggestions, creating a difficult situation for Imam.
Following Imam's formal apology, the board decided not to fuel the crisis and instead opted for a pragmatic solution that preserves Imam's value while facilitating a productive role.
The club announced that Imam would return to the youth sector, where he has a track record of discovering and nurturing talents who eventually step into the first team.
Club president Hussein Labib stated that bringing Imam back to the academy would help sustain the club's pipeline at a time of domestic and continental challenges.
The aim is to channel Imam's energy into developing the academy's 'talent factory' rather than keeping him sidelined on the bench of the first team.
Experts note ongoing questions about the relationship between Ferreira and Egyptian coaches, requiring administrative steps to preserve team unity.
Upcoming Match and Context
Meanwhile, Zamalek prepared for the CAF Confederation Cup return leg against Dikidaha Somalia, scheduled for Friday at the Cairo Stadium.
The squad list carried several absences, including Mohamed Shattah, Mahmoud Gohout, Ahmed Rabee, and Nabil Emad Donja, with Nasser Mansi also missing due to a hamstring injury.
In the first leg, Zamalek hammered the visitors 6-0 at Cairo Stadium, with Ahmed Sharif, Joao Bizerra, Amr Nasser, Seif El-Din El-Jaziri, and Seif Farouk Jafar among the scorers.
The return leg is largely a formality for the Whites, as they look to seal progression in the continental competition.
During the technical meeting, Zamalek wore their white home kit (white shirt and shorts) with a purple-jerseyed goalkeeper, while Dikidaha wore their blue kit with a green goalkeeper.
The club also allocated 250 first-class invites and 15 premium invites to Dikidaha officials.
Historically, Zamalek has lifted the CAF Confederation Cup twice, in 2019 and 2024, with both titles earned against RS Berkane of Morocco.
This backdrop frames the upcoming fixture as a chance to confirm progress, not a battlefield, even if the sidelines tell a different story.
Punchline time: If football management were a sniper rifle, Ferreira would be aiming foreign-made bullets—just watch out when the safety catch is off. Also, turning Hazem Imam into a talent scout is like turning a compass into a GPS—sometimes you actually find your way, sometimes you just get more lost in the playroom of tactics.
