CAIRO - Zamalek technical coach Hassan Shehata said his side is making the most of the stoppage in the Egyptian Premier League to play friendlies, stressing that the coaching staff are happy with the return of some injured players, including newly signed defender Hani Saeed. "This is of great benefit for us, as the friendlies allow us to field some players who are just recovering from injuries," said Shehata, pointing out that the coaching staff are considering different formations that they may use, once the League resumes again. "The coaching staff are making full use of the friendlies to prepare the injured players to make a strong return," he pointed out, explaining that they're going to hold two training sessions before the Premier League resumes again in a few days' time. The ex-Egypt coach added that these sessions would boost the players physically and tactically. "Five weeks into the season, I'm satisfied with the results of the team," said Shehata, pointing out that the team still haven't reached the level the coaching staff are aiming for. "When I undertook the mission of coaching the White Knights, I wanted to change the players' mentality," pointed out the veteran coach, stressing that Zamalek are a big team who should grab more titles and trophies. The Egyptian Premier League is now on hold until December 12, as the Egyptian Olympic team is currently playing in Morocco in the African Under-23 Championship, the qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. Zamalek will host Wady Degla at Arab Contractors Stadium later this month in the Premier League, before facing Arab Contractors on December 14. Mohamed Abdel-Shafei will be absent from the team for both matches, but the good news is that Hani Saeed played the whole of the friendly match against ESCO, having recovered from a leg injury he sustained in training last September. As for Egypt's new coach Bob Bradley, Shehata praised the American tactician, urging the fans to be patient with him and give him time to reveal his new thinking. "Bradley knows everything about the senior team. I've talked with him a lot. He needs to be given time to build a new team," Shehata added. The White Knights' coach advised Bradley not to listen to anyone and only to do what he thinks is right. Meanwhile, Zamalek's general coach Ismail Youssef revealed that the coaching staff have come up with a list of players they might sign in January, when the winter transfer window is open. Although Youssef refused to name names, sources at the White Knights said that the names include a striker to help solve the frontline problems, especially as striker Amr Zaki has been absent from training and strikers Hussein Hamdi and Benin's Omotoyosi, whom the club signed at the beginning of the season, haven't been playing as well as expected. "We need a local striker, not an African or foreign one," Youssef explained. The team are now depending solely on striker Ahmed Gaafar, which is not enough. Although Omotoyosi scored for Zamalek in their friendly game last Thursday against ESCO, which they easily won 4-0, the coaching staff are still waiting for a lot more from the man from Benin. According to some reports, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) is considering having two transfer windows this winter, as the first round of matches will end in late February. According to the same sources, the coaching staff have asked the club board to urgently sign at least one goalkeeper, one right-winger, one defender and one midfielder, besides the vitally needed local striker. Possible names include Aluminium goalkeeper Ibrahim Arafat, Enppi midfielder Islam Awad, Arab Contractors rightwinger Bassem Ali, Police Union defender Hossam Abdel-Gawaad, former Zamalek midfielder Hani Saeed and Ismaili midfielder Abdullah el-Shahaat. There are two players called Hani Saeed the one currently playing in defence for Zamalek and the former midfielder who might return to the White Knights in the winter transfer window. Ahmed el-Dabaa', the chairman of the EFA Players' Committee, said that, in order to overcome this problem, the committee might resort to dividing the transfer period into two stages. "The first will be for foreign players in Europe, while the second stage will be for local players playing in the Egyptian League," he added. Zamalek's coaching staff, meanwhile, have decided to fine Amr Zaki LE200,000 (around $33,000) and Hazem Imam LE150,000 (around $25,000) for being absent from training for so long. Bradley monitoring all the players Egypt's general coach Diaa el-Sayyed said that the coaching staff of the senior national team are keeping eye on all the League players. "Bradley, the technical coach of the national team, is keeping tabs on all the players in the Premier League," he said. "We're watching all the matches that are being played, whether friendlies or official ties, to look at all the players and choose the best for the national team," el-Sayyed pointed out after Zamalek's friendly against Sharqia last week. Egypt lost 2-0 to Brazil in Doha last month. After the game, Bradley said he'd got a better picture of the team. "We will carry on what we started in order to reach our goal," he said. Bradley took over as US coach in 2007, after he was taken on as interim coach when the Americans struggled in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The coaching staff of the national team have been watching most of the Egyptian clubs' friendlies during the stoppage of the Premier League, on the lookout for new blood. Bradley's main task now is to take Egypt to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which would be Egypt's third overall appearance and the first one in 24 years. "The Brazil game was my first practical experience with the Egyptian team. Seeing them play gave me much deeper insight," added Bradley, who guided the US team through the qualifiers to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, in which they lost to Ghana in the second round after drawing with England in the group stage. "We should not be pessimistic, because the road is long. This particular combination of players was only chosen for the match against Brazil.” "Thirty per cent of the players that played in the Brazil friendly could be changed. I haven't made up my mind on players like striker Emad Mete'b," said Bradley, pointing out that there are some talented players who could be selected for the Pharaohs in the near future. El-Sayyed explained that most of the coaching staff are monitoring the clubs' games and writing reports about those players showing signs of great promise. The ex-Al-Ahly stars hopes that the Premier League resumes on time as planned without any more postponements, as the national team need to prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. The Pharaohs are also preparing to face the Central African Republic in the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifiers during the first-half of 2012 (the exact dates of the matches have yet to be announced). The 2013 ACN qualification has drawn Egypt with the Central African Republic in the second preliminary round. “We are optimistic that the Egyptian Premier League will start on time,” said Samir Zaher, the EFA chairman, last week, adding that the EFA will hold a meeting today with the clubs' officials to discuss this matter. The Pharaohs' goalkeeping coach Zaki Abdel-Fattah, meanwhile, said that the Egyptian players lack a professional mentality, as the professional system only applies to their salaries and contracts. "Egyptian player don't approach football in a professional manner," said Abdel-Fattah, adding that this is evident, for example, in the food they eat. "The only exception is Wael Gomaa," explained Abdel-Fattah. “There is also Zamalek star Shikaballah, who is only lacking in experience.” Abdel-Fattah added that he has no problems with Zamalek goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed el-Sayyed. "El-Sayyed is one of the best goalkeepers in the nation," said the former US goalkeeping coach, pointing out that the 34-year-old is indispensable for the national team. “The Egyptian players are able only to play efficiently for 35 minutes at the most in any game.” The Egyptian senior team will be in a training camp from January 20 to February 10, 2012, in preparation for the Central African Republic clash.
