Zamalek are preparing to impose financial penalties on three of their players after Abdullah Al-Saeed, Angolan forward Chicopanza and Brazilian Juan Bezerra continued to miss the club’s pre-season training camp.
The Egyptian club’s management and technical staff are reportedly unhappy with the prolonged absences and are determined to enforce internal regulations without making exceptions for any player.
The latest training session took place without the presence of the three first-team players, despite Al-Saeed and Chicopanza previously informing club officials that they would join the camp from Wednesday.
Their failure to report as expected has increased frustration within the club, with officials believing that all members of the squad should be available from the beginning of preparations for the new season.
A source within Zamalek told the “winwin” platform that the coaching staff, in coordination with the board of directors, had expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, particularly because the three players are considered important members of the squad.
The source said the club views the opening stage of pre-season preparation as a crucial period and expects every player to be present from the first day in order to build fitness and tactical readiness ahead of the new campaign.
The club has now decided to activate its internal disciplinary regulations, with financial penalties set to be imposed on the absent players. The value of those fines is expected to increase with every additional day they remain away from training.
The decision is intended to send a clear message that discipline will be a priority at Zamalek and that no player will receive special treatment regardless of their importance to the team.
The absence of Al-Saeed has been linked to his continued stay in Greece. According to the source, the experienced midfielder informed the club that he was still in the country, delaying his return despite previously confirming that he would rejoin the squad and resume training on Wednesday.
Chicopanza also provided an explanation for his delayed arrival, telling Zamalek officials that he needed to travel to Portugal to complete procedures related to renewing his residency before returning to Cairo.
However, the situation became more complicated as club officials reportedly experienced difficulties contacting the Angolan player in recent days.
The case involving Juan Bezerra has added another layer of tension, with the source claiming that the Brazilian has not responded to calls from Zamalek officials.
His absence is reportedly connected to an unresolved issue involving his agent’s commission, which is estimated at around $125,000. The disagreement has created further concerns for the club’s administration, which is seeking a quick solution.
Despite the different circumstances surrounding each player’s absence, Zamalek’s position remains unchanged. The club insists that its regulations must be followed and that disciplinary action will continue until the players return.
The source concluded that the financial punishments will become increasingly severe if the absences continue, as the club attempts to establish a strict culture of commitment before the start of the new season.
Zamalek are currently focused on preparing their squad for the upcoming campaign, and the administration believes maintaining discipline during the pre-season period will be essential as the team competes on multiple fronts.
