Zamalek swiftly moved to ensure Jesualdo Ferreira will remain at the helm until the end of the season after extending the Portuguese coach's contract for one month. "The new contract will end in August following the season's end. The old one was due to expire in July," the Cairo club said in a brief statement on Tuesday. The Egyptian Football Association announced earlier in the day that the Premier League would end on 4 August, ending uncertainty over the timing of its finale. The likes of Cairo giants Ahly and Zamalek want the competition to end as soon as possible so that they can register new signings in time for their group stage campaign in the African Confederation Cup. Both sides will clash in the Cairo derby on 21 July, the EFA said. The season started in September last year but a forced delay over a Cairo football disaster and the fact that it's the first time 20 teams take part in the Egyptian league have hindered plans to end the competition by June. A seven-week hiatus followed a tragedy on 8 February when 20 Zamalek supporters died in a stampede after being tear-gassed by security forces before a league game against ENPPI at Cairo's Air Defence Stadium. Ferreira took over at Zamalek in February, becoming the fourth coach to take charge of the club this season following Hossam Hassan, Jaime Pacheco and caretaker manager Mohamed Salah. Despite the rapid backroom changes, Zamalek were hardly affected, thanks to a squad depth that resulted from a spending spree last summer that saw chairman Mortada Mansour sign more than a dozen players to bolster an underachieving side. Zamalek have not been defeated in 10 matches under Portuguese boss Ferreira, winning nine and drawing once. They look close on winning their first Premier League title since 2004 as they enjoy a nine-point lead over holders Ahly, who played an extra match. They also reached the CAF Confederation Cup group stage following a 3-2 aggregate victory over DR Congo's Sanga Balende. Source : Ahram online
