Faouzi Benzarti has been approached by Masri to take up their vacant managerial seat, the Tunisian coach said on Friday. Masri are on the lookout for a new foreign coach following the departure of Mokhtar Mokhtar, who surprisingly handed in his resignation after his team lost 3-1 to promoted Smouha in the Egyptian Premier League last month. "I will visit Egypt in the coming few days upon the invitation of Masri chairman Kamel Abou-Ali," Benzarti told Egyptian radio. "But the negotiations are still in the early stage, nothing has been settled yet." Tunisian side Esperance dispensed with Benzarti last Monday, two weeks after the team missed out on the lucrative African Champions League accolade in humiliating fashion. They suffered a 6-1 aggregate defeat by DR Congo side TP Mazembe, who won the prestigious title for the second consecutive season. Masri appointed former Ahli assistant coach Alaa Maihoub as a temporary boss following the sudden resignation of Mokhtar, who turned around the club's fortunes following his summer arrival. The Port Said-based club earlier offered Hossam Al-Badri, who resigned from his post as Ahli manager last month, the chance to take charge of the fellow Premier League side but he snubbed them. Masri lie ninth in the league table with 16 points but they can move level on 19 points with fifth-placed Ahli if they beat Arab Contractors on Friday.
