Coach Jaime Pacheco, 24 November 2005 (Photo: AFP)
Zamalek's upcoming clash against Wadi Degla on Monday will mark the dawn of a new era for the Cairo giants. Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco will start his mission as Zamalek's coach and he is hoping that he can right the wrongs of the last two games.
After thrashing Talae El-Geish 6-1 in the Egyptian league opener, Zamalek failed to maintain their rhythm as they were held to two goalless draws by Ittihad El-Shorta and Dakhleya.
Given the great expectations from the club's board, Zamalek's coach Hossam Hassan was shown the door after the two draws and Pacheco was named the team's new coach.
The 57-year-old, who arrived in Cairo on Friday, will have to impress the club's board, which went on a spending spree this summer, bringing in 17 players in order to regain the league title, last won in 2004.
Step one
Pacheco will have to work hard with the team's strikers to be more clinical after their poor performances since their league debut.
Former coach Hassan could have kept his post if his strikers succeeded in converting the many clear-cut opportunities in the two draws.
The Cairo giants looked wasteful during the two games, despite boasting three new front men in Khaled Kamar, Abdoulaye Cisse and Bassem Morsi, with the trio squandering some easy chances.
"I cannot understand how a team scored six goals in a game and then went 180 minutes without scoring," Pacheco said in a TV programme on Saturday.
"My target will be to resolve this problem."
Step two
Pacheco has to prepare a substitute for Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, one of the most consistent players on the team but who was loaned to Ahli Jeddah after receiving a lucrative offer last month.
Zamalek's new-signing Ahmed Samir is likely to take Abdel-Shafi's place in the team's starting line-up, but the problem remains that he is used to playing as a winger and not a fullback.
Given his recent appointment, Pacheco opted to keep almost the same squad from the last two games. The list announced on Sunday saw the absence of the duo Omar Gaber and Ahmed Tawfiq due to their conflicts with the club's board over the renewal of their contract.
The absence of the duo will not be effective as they haven't had a starting role with the team since the season debut.
In other matches, Petrojet are looking for their first win with their new coach this season when they host Al-Asyoty Sports, while Smouha will host El-Dakhleya at Alexandria Stadium.
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