Is Roy Aguash Set to Lead Zamalek? Club Sources Clear the Air

Background and Official Stance

Rumors linked Portuguese coach Roy Aguash with the Zamalek helm, but a club source told Koora that there have been no negotiations and that Ahmed Abd Al-Raouf’s staff retains full backing.

Current Plans Ahead of the Confederation Cup

The club affirmed confidence in its current coach as preparations continue for the group stage. Abd Al-Raouf met with the squad to outline the training plan for the final days before the pivotal opener against Zesco United. Security authorities approved 46,200 spectators for the Cairo stadium match, a welcome boost for the fans and the club alike.

Training and Squad Updates

In Thursday’s sessions at the Military College Stadium, all international players returned from duty with their national teams. The coach conducted a targeted briefing, detailing the tactical and physical focus for the upcoming fixtures and stressing the importance of discipline and execution.

The training regime emphasized a blend of conditioning and ball work, with the load management coach guiding intense conditioning blocks and lighter ball work to fuse physical preparation with technical drills. The session concluded with tactical drills designed to sharpen the coordination and execution of planned moves.

Staff Changes and Future Plans

Separately, Zamalek announced the formal departure of Croatian performance planner Mario Tomljanovic, in agreement with Abd Al-Raouf and sporting director John Edward. The club hinted at further changes to the coaching staff as it readies for the group-stage fixtures in Africa’s Confederation Cup.

Mohammed Alaa, a former performance analyst, also departed, with his farewell published on social media. He described a challenging moment but reaffirmed his lifelong connection to the club and pride in wearing the Zamalek badge. Alaa expressed that his return would be natural, but interpreted the moment as the club seeking a fresh infusion of energy and ideas ahead of crucial matches.

The board, led by Hussein Labib and in coordination with the sporting director, reiterated trust in Abd Al-Raouf as the project moves forward, while signaling that additional supporting staff could join in the near term to bolster the manager’s plans for the Confederation Cup run.

As the season progresses, the aim is to sustain a competitive edge and deliver on the fans’ expectations, with a focus on stability and tactical clarity going into the tournament’s early rounds.

Punchline 1: If coaching rumors were trophies, Zamalek would already be stacking CAF cups higher than their trophy cabinet.

Punchline 2: In football, certainty is scarce; the only thing more predictable than a press conference is Cairo traffic on match day.