Gamal Hamza said that the possibility of playing for Zamalek's arch-rivals Ahli has never crossed his mind. The Zamalek forward, a one-club player, has been linked with a shocking move to Ahli after being suspended by the White Knights for disciplinary reasons. “I won't join Ahli even if Zamalek released me,” Hamza told Modern Sport late on Thursday. “I'm ready to play in any club in Egypt except Ahli. Reports indicating that I might join them are totally untrue. “I prefer to play in Europe, but if I didn't get that chance I will remain with Zamalek unless they decline to extend my contract.” Hamza has been out of the first-team frame since being suspended by the crisis-hit Zamalek last month. Zamalek adopted a get-tough policy to punish the underperforming players, suspending the likes of Hamza, Ricardo Alves, Osama Hassan and Mohamed Aboul-Ella in the process. The punished players were ordered to train separately from their teammates as the Cairo giants sought to end a barren run.
Hamza surprised by punishment Few weeks later, Zamalek lifted the suspension of Ricardo, Aboul-Ella and Hassan but Hamza remained out of favor. “I don't know why Zamalek punished me, their decision was unreasonable. (Football director) Ahmed Refaat tried to bring me back to the first-team but coach Reiner Hollmann refused.” “I'm surprised that Ricardo returned to the first-team frame even though he refused to accept the punishment. He skipped training for eight successive days,” Hamza added. Unfulfilled Potential Although Hamza has an undoubted talent, he is often criticized for not playing to his potential. Renowned for his theatrical dives, the 27-year-old wastes many clear-cut chances because he intentionally falls to the ground rather than scoring from good positions. Many had expected that Hamza would forge a fine strike partnership with Ghanaian Junior Agogo, who joined Zamalek in the summer from Nottingham Forest. But the duo failed to impress while playing along with each other.
