CAIRO: Zamalek coach Reiner Hollmann turned down Hazem Emam’s request to pardon five players who were deemed surplus to the club s requirements.
German coach Hollmann is trying to restore order in the crisis-hit club through excluding the underperforming and undisciplined players.
Tunisian defender Wissem El-Abdi and Brazilian full-back Ricardo Alves have been placed on the transfer list.
Gamal Hamza and Mohamed Aboul-Ella, who formed the backbone of Zamalek’s squad for many years, were ordered to train separately from their teammates, so was left-back Osama Hassan.
Prominent board member Emam, a Zamalek icon and a former teammate of those players, asked Hollmann to let the players take part in training.
But the 59-year-old tactician stood firm on his stance.
“Hollmann rejected Emam s request, a source close to the former Ahly coach told FilGoal.com late on Sunday.
“Emam wanted Zamalek to have all their players available for Friday’s Egyptian League clash against leaders Petrojet but Hollmann insisted he was the only one to make such decision.
Four youngsters were promoted to the first-team as Zamalek plan to lessen their reliance on their current crop of players.
