CAIRO - Zamalek technical coach Hassan Shehata has expressed his satisfaction with his team's drawing with Tanzania's Young Africans in the round of 64 in the African Champions League (ACL), stressing that a point is significant in the circumstances. "The coaching staff are satisfied with the way the team played, especially given the Port Said tragedy," Shehata said after the game, pointing out that the club are waiting for a CAF decision on Zamalek playing the second leg in Cairo or not. Egyptian giants Zamalek were held to a 1-1 draw by the Young Africans of Tanzania in the first leg of their ACL match in the province of Dar es Salaam, thanks to goals from the Young Africans' Hamis Kiiza and Amr Zaki, who equalised for the White Knights. According to Shehata, the team entered the game with many problems, not just injuries, but also the fact that the players are still upset about the Port Said tragedy, which has caused the League to be indefinitely postponed, while most clubs have suspended all their sporting activities. On Wednesday February 1, in Port Said, a match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly turned violent, claiming the lives of at least 74 Ahly fans and injuring around 1,000 more. Seconds after the final whistle, thousands of supporters of Port Said team Al-Masry invaded the pitch, hurling bottles and rocks at the fans of Cairo's Al-Ahly. Zamalek went into the match without many key players, such as Ahmed Hassan, given permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Umra (Minor Pilgrimage), in addition to defender Salah Soleiman and playmaker Mohamed Ibrahim, both injured, and Egypt star Mahmoud Abdel-Razeq 'Shikaballah'. "The squad weren't up to strength, but the players' willpower and persistence made all the difference as they grabbed an important draw. I want to thank them all for their efforts,” Shehata added. "The Young Africans are a good, organised team with a talented coaching staff, which is why a draw is nothing to complain about," he explained, adding that the coaching staff have been trying to help the players get over the Port Said disaster. The return leg match will be held on the weekend of March 2 to 4. Zamalek goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed el-Sayyed was also happy with the team's performance after the long Premier League stoppage, adding that this vital draw will stand the team in good stead for the second leg. El-Sayyed, who played despite an injury, praised the behaviour of the Tanzanian fans who were supporting their team in Dar es Salaam.
