Zamalek are expecting Angolan winger Chico Banza to arrive in Cairo on Saturday morning as the Egyptian club continues preparations for the upcoming season.
Club officials are waiting for the 26-year-old to return to Egypt after tickets were sent to the player to facilitate his journey back to Cairo and allow him to rejoin the squad’s preparations.
Banza’s return comes after Zamalek had taken a disciplinary stance over his delayed arrival for pre-season training.
The Egyptian club had previously decided to apply its disciplinary regulations to the winger after he failed to return to Cairo on the expected date and missed part of the team’s preparations.
His arrival on Saturday would allow him to rejoin his team-mates and resume training as Zamalek build towards the start of their Premier League campaign.
The Cairo-based club are due to open their league season against Al-Ittihad Alexandria on Friday, 21 August, with the match scheduled to take place at Cairo International Stadium.
Banza set to rejoin preparations
Zamalek had already taken steps to ensure Banza could return to Egypt by sending him his flight tickets.
The club’s expectation is that the Angolan winger will arrive in Cairo on Saturday morning before joining the team’s training sessions.
His delayed return had become an issue for the club as preparations for the new season progressed.
Zamalek had made clear that players were expected to report for training as part of the preparations, and Banza’s absence prompted the club to decide that disciplinary measures would be applied under its internal regulations.
The winger’s expected return now comes at an important point in the club’s preparations.
With the beginning of the league campaign less than two weeks away, Zamalek will want their squad to have as much time as possible together before competitive football begins.
Banza’s return should therefore give the club an opportunity to reintegrate him into the training programme and assess his readiness for the opening fixture.
Zamalek prepare for league opener
The Egyptian Premier League campaign will begin for Zamalek with a meeting against Al-Ittihad Alexandria on 21 August.
The fixture will be played at Cairo International Stadium and represents the first competitive test of the new season for the club.
Zamalek’s preparations are therefore focused on ensuring the squad is ready for the demands of the campaign.
Banza’s availability could be important as the club works towards that opening match, particularly after his delayed return disrupted his involvement in the pre-season programme.
The Angolan winger will now be expected to make up for lost preparation time once he arrives in Cairo.
For Zamalek, the immediate priority is to have their players back together and fully involved in training before the league gets under way.
The club had already taken the administrative step of arranging Banza’s flight, and officials are now waiting for him to arrive.
His expected return on Saturday should bring an end to the uncertainty surrounding his absence and allow the player to focus on his preparations for the season.
The disciplinary action previously announced by Zamalek highlights the importance the club places on players reporting for duty on schedule.
Banza’s return will now shift the focus back to football as Zamalek continue their preparations for their opening league fixture.
With Al-Ittihad Alexandria awaiting them at Cairo International Stadium on Friday, 21 August, the club will be looking to complete its preparations and begin the new Premier League campaign strongly.
