Zamalek coach praises players after Chelsea draw

Zamalek's newly-appointed Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira was happy with his team's 1-1 draw with Ghanaian side Berekum Chelsea in the CAF Champions League on Saturday. "I am pleased with the players' performance against Chelsea," Vieira was quoted as saying on Zamalek's official website after the game. "The players improved during the game and managed to change the fans' attitude towards them," he added. "I thank the majority of Zamalek's supporters at the game for backing the players," club president Mamdouh Abbas said. Zamalek supporters were allowed back into the stands for the first time since February’s Port Said disaster. Following the event, which left more than 70 dead, Egyptian clubs and the national team have played behind closed doors due to lingering security concerns. "I thank Zamalek supporters for standing against the few fans who insulted the management," Abbas added. Fans hurled a barrage of insults at the club’s board of directors and chairman Mamdouh Abbas, blaming them for a poor run of results and mounting financial difficulties which have prompted veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan and Benin striker Razak Omotoyossi to threaten to depart in protest at unpaid salaries. They called on the chairman and board to leave the club, which has not won a trophy since lifting the Egypt Cup in 2008. (ahram)e text