Published Date: 2025-05-08 13:04:13 Updated At: 2025-05-08 14:15:01

In a radio interview filled with clarity and transparency, Hazem Emam, the former Zamalek star and current member of the Planning Committee, addressed the controversy that arose recently due to statements made by his colleague in the committee, Ahmed Hossam Mido. Hazem Emam clarified the misinterpretations surrounding these statements, stressing that they were not directed at the current Zamalek board and were not meant to escalate tensions or create crises within the club.

Emam explained that Mido’s comments were misunderstood by some, with people interpreting them as direct criticism of certain board members. In reality, this was not the case. He emphasized that Mido, as always, holds great respect for all board members, and the purpose of the Planning Committee is to provide technical support and necessary administrative assistance to develop the football sector of the club, not to spark crises or seek positions of power.

Hazem added: "We are not here to compete with anyone or take over roles from others. On the contrary, we are here to complement the administration’s work and support it with our experience and scientific, strategic perspective aimed at the public interest." He also revealed discussions he had with Zamalek’s president, Captain Hussein Labib, where it was emphasized that their presence in the committee is linked to implementing a comprehensive structural project for the football sector, which includes a sports director, contract manager, scouts, and data and statistics analysts, to complement the work of the first-team manager.

Emam pointed out that if this system is implemented properly, it will create a fully integrated system starting from youth teams all the way to the first team. This vision is not only about improving performance on the field but also achieving long-term sustainability and a structure capable of producing homegrown players, similar to what happens in top European clubs like Barcelona, where more than 90% of the first-team players are academy products.

Emam expressed his dissatisfaction with the prevailing culture in the sports community, which tends to rely on individuals in times of crisis, saying: "It’s not normal that we wait for a problem to occur before we search for solutions or bring in people to help. We should have a working system in place, even if administrations change."

He emphasized that the Planning Committee does not seek to remain in their positions or stay just for the sake of being present. He and his colleagues, like Mido and Amr El-Ganayni, are ready to leave as soon as the system they proposed is implemented. "We want to work with a scientific approach. When the system works, we don’t have to be here. That’s real success — leaving behind a system that runs on its own, not names."

Hazem continued: "The club must work for the long term. We’re not looking for media attention or cameras. We are looking for a plan that will work for years to come, so that when someone leaves, the next person can continue based on the same foundation. This is the mindset we’re working with, and we’re trying to convince the administration of it."

He also stressed that the committee is working during a challenging time, with Zamalek going through a period filled with administrative and sporting challenges. However, they believe that the only way to return to the right path is through fundamental solutions, not temporary fixes. "If every time we go back to square one, we won’t make any progress. Everyone needs to understand their role and work according to their expertise."

Emam explained that the work within the committee is based on deep study and comparison with the experiences of top clubs, noting that most successful global clubs didn’t achieve success by chance, but through meticulous administrative work. "It’s not logical to compare ourselves to Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, who buy players, while we have a youth sector that, if properly managed, could become one of the best in Africa, not just Egypt."

He concluded by emphasizing that the current Planning Committee’s experience should serve as a model to establish the concept of "institution" rather than "individual." "If the board changes, nothing should collapse. There needs to be a working system in place, and that’s our real message."

He pointed out that there is often confusion about roles within the club, and organization is the key to overcoming repeated crises. "The clearer the system is, the easier it is for people to work without stress or conflicts."

Hazem Emam closed his statements with an important message to Zamalek fans, the administration, and all supporters of the club, stressing that the project the committee is working on is for the club and not for individuals. "Our success is not in staying in our positions, but in leaving and the club continuing without us. When that happens, we’ll have done our part."

At the end of his remarks, it was clear that Hazem Emam was speaking not out of diplomacy or courtesy but from a position of responsibility and genuine love for Zamalek, placing the club’s interests above all else and confirming that structural planning and scientific development are the only ways to restore stability and success.