Zamalek are on the verge of finalising an agreement with Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira to bring him back to Cairo following the sudden departure of Jaime Pacheco, according to local reports. Board member Ahmed Mansour, the son of Zamalek's controversial chairman Mortada Mansour, was quoted as saying by Egyptian media that Vieira would arrive in Cairo on Sunday to take charge of the club. Zamalek are yet to officially comment on the widespread reports but their passionate fans made no secret of their delight on social media, fondly recalling how Vieira had turned around their fortunes in his previous spell in charge of one of Africa's most successful teams of all time. Pacheco's assistant Mohamed Salah has temporarily taken over at Zamalek after the Portuguese boss, under whom Zamalek looked very solid, resigned in an acrimonious manner after falling out with Mansour, whom he accused of interfering in the team affairs. Vieira, best known for steering Iraq to a historic Asian Cup triumph in 2007, helped Zamalek finish on top of their Egyptian Premier League group in the 2012-13 season with 13 victories from 15 matches. The White Knights looked well-equipped to win their first league title since 2004 but the competition was called off just before the final play-off phase due to the political turmoil that followed the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Vieira was then appointed as the coach of Kuwaiti national team but resigned last November following the team's humiliating 5-0 defeat by Oman in the Gulf Cup. It remains to be seen whether the 61-year-old would lead Zamalek in the crucial Cairo derby against Ahly on 29 January. Mansour recently said Salah will remain at the helm when Zamalek take on their bitter rivals, whom they had not defeated since 2007. Zamalek are on top of the league table with 40 points, 12 ahead of fourth-placed and defending champions Ahly who still have three games in hand. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/120486.aspx
