Behind closed doors no more - Zamalek to return to Cairo Stadium after three year absence

USM Alger player (L) fights for the ball with Zamalek Aly Hefny Abdalla Hasanin Salama (R) during the 2017 CAF Champions League game between USM Alger and Zamalek at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, Algeria on 21 June 2017 © BackpagePix

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday Oct 21, 2017. 10:30

Egyptian giants Zamalek have announced that they will play their Premier League matches in Cairo after a three-year absence.

The White Knights announced on Wednesday they will play at the Cairo International Stadium, which used to be home to the capital’s leading clubs Al Ahly and Zamalek.

Zamalek will host their matches starting from the November 3 against Petrojet as president Mortada Mansour announced.

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“We got an approval from the interior ministry to stage our matches at the Cairo Stadium,” Mansour said.

Zamalek last played at the 74 100 seater in December 2014 when they lost 2-0 to Enppi in a league match and have since held their games at Cairo’s Petrosport Stadium.

Meanwhile, domestic games are still taking place behind closed doors due to security concerns where Ahly and Zamalek have held the majority of their matches away from their favourite venue.

The decision came after a football tragedy in 2012 where over 70 Red Devils fans were killed after being attacked by Al-Masry supporters in the coastal city of Port Said.