As reported on our Twitter page earlier, NT goalkeepers Ramzi Saleh and Abdullah Saidawi or on trial with Haras Al-Hodoud and Zamalek, respectively. Both players are appealing targets due to the fact that they are not counted as foreigners in the Egyptian league. The Egyptian FA allows teams to register up to three foreigners a season.
Saidawi’s trial has come as a surprise, the 31 year-old received his first cap in 2009 against Iraq, and is considered the best WBPL goalkeeper along with Mohammed Shbair. If Saidawi does secure a long-term contract he will most likely back up Abdelwahed El-Sayed. Before taking Saidawi on loan, Zamalek was on the verge of signing Ramzi Saleh but the deal fell through at the 11th hour due to differences concerning compensation and (presumably) squad status.
National Team captain Ramzi Saleh is far more likely to sign a long-term contract with Haras Al-Hodoud. The Alexandria-based club is desperate for a goalkeeper after their starter, Mathurin Kameni (older brother of Carlos, of Espanyol) went down for the season with a torn ACL. The club only has one keeper in the squad and is not contracted to any of them after this season. Haras Al-Hodoud have three foreigners registered (Fofo Wisdom of Ghana, Abdoulaye Sidibe of Mali, and the aforementioned Cameroonian Kameni) which limits their search for a backup goalkeeper to Ramzi Saleh, an Egyptian goalkeeper, or the incumbent Ali Farag.
Zamalek lead the Egyptian league on 31 points from 14 games.
Haras Al-Hodoud are in 11th (out of 16 teams) on 17 points 6 points from the relegation zone and 9 points from a spot in the Confederations Cup/Champions League.
We will keep you posted as this story develops…
