Political instability is damaging Egyptian football, says German coach

Egypt’s Gouna football team coach Rainer Zobel posited on Thursday that the recent political turmoil in Egypt has distracted the players from training, reported local news outlet, Ahram Online.

Since the ouster of President Mohammad Mursi, domestic competitions have been suspended due to mass protests.

“It’s not difficult for me to witness these circumstances, while I see Gouna’s players concentrating on the political news more than training,” Zobel told German agency DPA.

“Gouna [on the Red Sea coast] is away from the security instability and life goes on, but you don't see windsurfers and tourists there now,” he added.

“I feel safe in Gouna as Egyptian people love football despite the current political saga,” the German coach added.

The Egyptian Premier League is expected to kick off on Oct. 15 but the 64-year-old coach believes it won’t start on schedule, According to Ahram Online.

“Egyptian football is still suffering from the suspension … More foreign and local players have decided to play outside the country.”

“I will stay in Egypt and my family will visit me there as I feel safe in Gouna and I don’t have any fears there.”

Zobel replaced former coach Anwar Salama, who was formally dismissed following poor results in April.

Zobel previously couched teams in Egypt, granting one of them two league titles in 1990 and 1999.