Nigeria's former winger Emmanuel Amunike has officially asked to take charge of his former club Zamalek, the Egyptian club's chairman Mortada Mansour revealed Monday night. "Amunike contacted us officially asking to take charge of the team, but we are still discussing the matter," Mansour told ON Sport TV channel. Zamalek coach Mohamed Helmi, who took the post only a few weeks ago, came under fire recently after losing the Cairo derby 2-0 against rivals Ahly in the last match-day of the Egyptian Premier League's first round. Mansour said recently he would meet with Helmi to decide his future with the club, naming three foreign candidates in the event the coach decides to leave. The club's president named former Wadi Degla coach Patrice Carteron of France, Romanian coach Marius Sumudica and Portuguese Jose Romao as potential candidates before Amunike reached out. Amunike, 46, is widely regarded as one of Zamalek's best ever foreign players, having delivered outstanding performances when he joined the Whites in 1991 from Nigerian side Bridge F.C. He was a key factor in guiding the Cairo team to victory in two domestic league titles before departing in 1994 for Portuguese side Sporting CP. Amunike then played for Barcelona, Albacete, Busan I'Cons and Al-Wahadat before retiring in 2004. The former Nigerian international started his managerial career in 2008, coaching Nigerian clubs Bridge F.C and Ocean Boys F.C. His prominent achievement was guiding Nigeria's U17 team to win the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup title. Zamalek are currently third in the Egyptian league table with 34 points, 11 behind leaders Ahly who have played two matches more than they. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
