Alexandria‚ Egypt - Zamalek coach Moamen Soliman said he will not resign following his side’s 3-1 aggregate defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Caf Champions League final.
Soliman had been quoted in the Egyptian press as having told Zamalek’s management ahead of the final – won by Downs despite a 1-0 defeat in the second leg in Alexandria on Sunday – that he would step down should the White Knights lose.
However 1990s Zamalek player Soliman said after the second leg at Borg El Arab Stadium that he had received the backing of the club’s chairman‚ Mortada Mansour‚ and would continue in his position.
“First of all we produced an outstanding performance tonight‚” Soliman said. “Second‚ in Egypt we have about 40 million fans.
"So after you fall in a big competition like the Champions League it’s like a habit that the coach has to resign. “But the committee [Zamalek’s board] will have to decide if I will continue or not.
“The chairman surprised me and came to our change room and said‚ ‘We are still the same. We have confidence in our payers and our staff'. “So I will continue.” Soliman received praise and support from Downs counterpart Pitso Mosimane.
“I must congratulate the coach. He surprised me with different tactics than I expected‚” Mosimane said.
“He played one striker‚ Basem Morsi‚ and two playmakers behind him. He had Ayman Hefny‚ and he brought Stanley Ohawuchi inside [from wing].
“I think if they give the coach a bit of a chance‚ he’s a very good coach.”
Soliman replaced Mohamed Helmi‚ who resigned as Zamalek's coach in July following his side's second Champions League group defeat to Sundowns‚ 1-0 in Atteridgelle‚ after having also lost 2-1 to the Brazilians in Cairo.
* Marc Strydom is in Egypt as a guest of Mamelodi Sundowns
- TMG Digital
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