Defending champions Zamalek will have to do without several key players when they face Aswan in Sunday's Egyptian Premier League game, including regular central defenders Mohamed Koffi and Ali Gabr. The White Knights were already without the injured Gabr when they defeated Wadi Degla 2-0 in their opening league match on Wednesday but defender Ahmed Dewidar deputized and put in an impressive performance in the heart of a four-man backline. Dewidar will surely keep his place but his partner against Degla, Burkinabe Mohamed Koffi, will not be available against promoted Aswan after picking up a hamstring injury that will rule him out for up to three weeks. Either Hamada Tolba, a versatile right-foot defender who is often deployed as a left back, or fringe defender Islam Gamal, who rarely plays, will cover for Koffi when Zamalek face Aswan in the Upper Egyptian city. Zamalek will also have to do without versatile midfielder Ahmed Tawfik, who has also proved reliable as a right back recently, and playmaker Ahmed Hamoudi who could only make a few appearances after joining on a season-long loan from Swiss side Basel in the summer. Both are injured. Skipper and pacy full-back Hazem Emam is also out as he serves the second of a two-match suspension imposed after he invaded the pitch to confront Ahly's players in a heated Super Cup clash in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/161693.aspx
