Zamalek have signed Palestinian playmaker Imad Zatara and Ivorian striker Olié Koffi Kan after they impressed during a trial spell. "The club will announce the full details of the duo's deals in the next few hours," Zamalek said on a statement on their official website. Zatara and Kan were among several foreigners who underwent a trial at the Cairo giants during the past few days. Zamalek coach Michel Decastel wasn't convinced that Cameroonian duo Stephane Mpondo and Ize Kwala were good enough to play for his side. But Zatara and Kan put in some fine displays in friendly games to prompt the White Knights to offer each of them a four-and-a-half year deal. Kan, who played for Africa Sports in his homeland, will compete with the likes of Gamal Hamza, Abdul-Halim Ali, Sherif Ashraf and new signing Mohamed Al-Morsi for a place alongside Junior Agogo in Zamalek's frontline.
Ricardo is expected to leave Zamalek Zatara, 23, is unlikely to face stiff competition from his new teammates, given that close-season arrivals Mahmoud Samir and Alaa Kamal failed to impress as playmakers. The arrival of Kan and Zatara will probably mark the exit of Brazilian full-back Ricardo Alves as Egyptian FA regulations prohibit any club from registering more than three foreigners in its squad. Ricardo, who joined Zamalek as a free agent last summer, did not prove his worth and fell out with the club's board more than once. The 11-time Egyptian champions recently signed Mansoura duo Al-Morsi and Ibrahim Salah as well as Sabri Rahil, who joined from second-division side MCSD. They aim to bolster their squad in order to make up for their disappointing results in the first half of the season that saw their hopes of competing for the league title fade.
