CAIRO - Ismaili have officially sacked coach Hossam Hassan, following the team's exit from the Egypt Cup, the club said on their website on Wednesday. Ismaili were eliminated from the quarterfinals after losing in Cairo 3-1 to Arab Contractors, who were the bottom side in Division One last season. Hassan and his new staff had only been in charge of Ismaili for a couple of games, as the Dervishes beat Beni Sueif 4-0 before losing at Contractors. The club said that Mahmoud Gaber will coach the team until a new manager is hired by the board. Hassan's staff, which includes his twin brother Ibrahim as football director, was appointed this summer by Yehia el-Koumi, who himself stepped down after only a month. The board of new chairman Raafat Abdel-Azeem is now responsible for finding a new coach for the beleaguered Dervishes. Meanwhile, many Ismaili fans, have, on Facebook, expressed their opposition to the club's decision, creating a page entitled 'No to Hossam and Ibrahim's departure'. In related news, Abu Taleb el-Essawi has been re-appointed as the team's general trainer. He had announced his resignation as he said he was marginalised by the coaching staff and Hossam Hassan treated him shabbily.
