MAMELODI Sundowns have now been responsible for two coaches quitting their respective clubs after their teams lost to the Brazilians in Caf continental matches this year.
AFP reports that Zamalek coach Mohamed Helmy has resigned after the Egyptian giants’ 1-0 loss to Sundowns in a Caf Champions League Group B clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday, while captain Hazem Emam has been suspended over an altercation with a team member.
The result means Downs win Group B and qualify for the semifinals. They will play their first leg of the semifinals away to the team finishing runners-up in Group A, which still has to be decided.
Zamalek have to beat Nigerian champions Enyimba in their final group match to qualify for the semifinals.
Downs, who play Enyimba away on 23 August in their final group fixture, cannot be overtaken, having collected a maximum nine points from three straight wins. Zamalek have three points and Enyimba have none, with those two matches left to play.
Zamalek chief Mortada Mansour announced at a press conference late on Wednesday that he had accepted Helmy’s resignation and had appointed Mohamed Salah as interim coach.
He added that he decided to suspend Emam after he allegedly brandished a table knife in a team member’s face.
- In May, the coach of Ghana club Medeama SC, Tom Strand, hit the road and returned to his native Sweden when his charges were beaten 3-1 by Downs at the same venue in a Caf Confederation Cup play-off match.
Strand went AWOL after the game and left a resignation note in his hotel room.
It was later alleged that he was assaulted by a Medeama official after the defeat. – ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY BILLY COOPER
