Unfortunately, at Zamalek, No One Passed

Written by Dr. Hamada Alantably

The management of Zamalek Club gambled on quick wins at the expense of the club’s values and standing, after dismissing manager Pacheco—the “former runaway manager”—and bringing back the coach who had left the team in difficult circumstances the previous season chasing money, in the hope of securing a win against Tunisia’s Espérance. They hoped this coach excelled in high-stakes matches, but alas, following today’s loss, the result for Zamalek was that “no one passed,” and the management lost everything.

The management’s intervention from the very beginning was a flawed decision. There was a manager who needed backing and support from the administration rather than being undermined, especially while the team sat atop the Egyptian Premier League standings—even if temporarily until Al Ahly played its remaining matches. But as usual, one always finds the destructive hand of Zamalek’s administration at play, as if it is the inescapable fate of Zamalek and its fans that the board must always be the “hero” at the expense of everything else. From Mortada to the temporary committees, oh my heart, do not grieve!

To the great fans of Zamalek: your real problem is inside the club; your problem is in the management. You always mock Al Ahly for repeating the slogan “Values and Principles First,” but the ultimate lesson we must take from this incident is that values, principles, and the dignity of the institution are what matter most. Let trophies go to hell for the sake of the entity, because upholding the entity and its steadfast values naturally leads to future victories and championships. This, if we are being entirely honest, is what sets Al Ahly apart from Zamalek.

Waging bets on quick wins at the expense of the club’s core value only results in losing everything. May God be with you, O Zamalek fans, and condolences to those who do not know the true value of the club. The outcome is clear: no one passed.

Straighten up, may God have mercy on you.

By Dr. Hamada Alantably