Egypt's Mohamed Zidan intends to carry on playing
Omar Zaazou, Friday 1 Aug 2014
Zidan insists he has not retired as he intends to return to football action


Egyptian forward Mohamed Zidan said on his official Facebook page that he intends to return to action next season following an 18-month hiatus.

Zidan, 32, revealed that he had flown to the United States to undergo a rehabilitation program under the supervision of his own personal trainer as he looks to resume his footballing career.

The once-Egypt star has failed to join any club since terminating his contract with Emirate club Bani Yas, who ditched their striker early last year after he fell out with the team's board and management.

Club officials have accused him of feigning injury in an attempt to skip games at the time, as he struggled to switch to any other club due to his tarnished reputation.

His Egypt career was earlier marred by another controversial act, which saw him deliberately pull out of an African Cup of Nations' qualifier at Central African Republic in June 2012.

His demeanor prompted then-Egypt manager Bob Bradley to rule him out of his future plans and he has been out of favour since.

However, Zidan - who was instrumental in helping Egypt win two successive CAN titles in 2008 and 2010 - is understood to be eyeing a return to the national team fold under new coach Shawky Gharib, who coached him as an assistant manager to Hassan Shehata during their glorious era.

It remains to be seen whether Zidan, who spent nearly a decade in the Bundesliga with the likes of Borrusia Dortmund, Werder Bremen and Mainz, will be able to find a new club, with reports suggesting that he is not willing to play in Egypt.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.)

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/107531.aspx