Zamalek vice chairman Hisham Nasr has said the club’s approach to investing in land for its new branch has become a model now being followed by other Egyptian clubs.
Speaking on the “Zamalekawi” podcast, Nasr argued that the idea of developing the club’s land in the 6th of October area was originally conceived by Zamalek’s leadership and has since influenced wider thinking within Egyptian sport.
He said the strategy was rooted in a long-term financial vision designed to strengthen clubs through real estate assets rather than relying solely on traditional sports revenue.
According to Nasr, the decision to activate the club’s previously unused land marked a turning point in how Egyptian clubs consider financial sustainability and infrastructure development.
‘A dream for a new Zamalek branch’
Nasr recalled his earlier ambitions when he was involved with the Handball Federation, explaining that his focus had long been on improving sports infrastructure in Egypt.
He said:
“When I was in the Handball Federation, my dream was to establish a complex of halls, and we actually participated in the implementation of a number of major sports facilities, but the biggest dream was the new Zamalek Club branch.”
He added that sports in Egypt do not typically generate direct profit, meaning clubs must look for alternative sources of income such as property development, academies and membership subscriptions.
“The real returns come from real estate assets,” he said, arguing that clubs with multiple branches tend to be more financially stable.
Controversy over land project
Nasr acknowledged that the project attracted criticism when it was first introduced, saying the club faced accusations over its plans for the land.
He defended the approach, insisting it was a forward-looking decision that was later validated at national level.
“We put forward an idea that I assure you will be followed by all Egyptian clubs, and what angered me most at the time was the extent of the accusations we were subjected to, but the response came quickly with a decision sponsored by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the President of the Republic, which proved the validity of our vision and was very fair to what we were striving for.”
He also said he was surprised by what he described as internal criticism from some individuals who identify as Zamalek supporters, arguing that such opposition made the situation more difficult for the club at the time.
Other clubs now adopting similar model
Nasr claimed that since the approval and progression of Zamalek’s project, other Egyptian clubs have begun exploring similar investment strategies.
He suggested that multiple clubs are now preparing to follow the same path, describing it as a growing trend in domestic football administration.
He also said that during the earlier stages of Zamalek’s difficulties, the club did not receive sufficient solidarity from other Egyptian teams, contrasting it with situations where clubs such as Ismaily have received wider support during crises.
“There was no solidarity with Zamalek Club, as happened recently with Ismaily Club, even though everyone knew the magnitude of the crisis the club was going through,” he said.
Acknowledgements and closing remarks
Despite his criticism, Nasr concluded by thanking several officials and figures who supported Zamalek during the process, including Mohamed Megahed, Chairman of the Youth and Sports Committee in the House of Representatives, Dr Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, and Dr Walid Abbas, Deputy Minister of Housing for Urban Communities.
He also expressed appreciation for Zamalek chairman Hussein Labib and the club’s board of directors, while reiterating that greater moral support from other clubs would have been welcomed before they later adopted similar ideas.
The remarks underline ongoing debate in Egyptian football over club financing models and the growing importance of infrastructure-based investment strategies.
