Caretaker coach Mohamed Salah (Photo: Ahram)
Caretaker coach Mohamed Salah will still be in charge of Zamalek when they meet arch-rivals Ahly in an anticipated Cairo derby on 29 January, club chairman Mortada Mansour said on Tuesday.
Salah took over on an interim basis following the sudden departure of Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco, who unilaterally terminated his contract after falling out with Mansour following a 2-0 Egyptian Premier League loss to ENPPI in December.
He led Zamalek to three victories in as many games, including two in the league, but question marks remain over the team's displays.
"Mohamed Salah will remain in his post until the Cairo derby," outspoken chairman Mansour told an Egyptian radio station on Tuesday.
"There is no time to hire a new coach before the Ahly clash."
Mansour denied reports suggesting that the White Knights have already reached an agreement with Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira to bring him back to the club.
Vieira was in charge of Zamalek in the 2012-13 season but left after the season was cancelled due to political turmoil, just before the competition's final phase.
"Those reports are completely false. There is no agreement," he said, before declining to respond to a question over whether Vieira would be appointed as Zamalek's new boss following the derby.
Zamalek, who are eyeing their first league title since 2004, are on top of the table with 40 points, 12 clear of fourth-placed and defending champions Ahly, who still have three games in hand
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