Gouna did not mean to tire Zamalek when they decided to host them in Upper Egypt in the Premier League on Friday, coach Ismail Youssef said on Thursday. The promoted club play the majority of their home games at their venue in the Red Sea resort but the Egyptian Interior Ministry obliges them to hold their matches against Ahli and Zamalek elsewhere for security reasons. Gouna's stadium can host up to 7,000 spectators, a number that does not suit clubs with large fan bases such as Ahli and Zamalek. They decided to hold their match against Zamalek in Sohag in Southern Egypt, around 470 kilometers away from Cairo where the White Knights play their home matches. "Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan asked me to hold the match in Cairo," Youssef told FilGoal.com. "However, we opted to play in Sohag because the stadium there hosts 40,000 fans and its pitch is very good. "We had no intention to tire Zamalek before the game, the Egyptian FA told us to play in Southern Egypt because we represent this part of the country. We will face Ahli in the same place." Third-bottom Gouna will be looking to cause an upset and end Zamalek's 10-man unbeaten run to allay their relegation fears. Zamalek, whose fortunes were turned around by coach Hassan, lie third in the table with 37 points, nine behind leaders and arch-rivals Ahli.
