Shikabala quits Zamalek over unpaid dues

Egypt winger Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdel-Razeq has unilaterally terminated his contract with Zamalek, claiming the club owes him money. The 27-year-old player went AWOL a week ago and on Thursday he notified the board that he had terminated the contract. His agent Samir Abdel-Tawab told Ahram Sports that Zamalek owes his client LE1.8 million (roughly $257 000) and that they have been stalling for several weeks. Abdel-Tawab said a complaint had already been filed with the Egyptian Football Association. In a first reaction, Zamalek interim president Kamal Darwish told Ahram Sports that Shikabala cannot leave before paying his debts. "Shikabala owes us LE2.85 million. He must reimburse the LE3million we paid Paok after he breached his contract with them to join us, and a lot of fines that have been imposed on him over the past few years," Darwish said. In 2007, Shikabala was hit with a six-month ban and a 990, 000 euros fine for an illegitimate transfer to Zamalek. Zamalek agreed to pay the fine in order to keep the player. The cash-strapped Cairo giants have fallen behind with their payments over the past few months and the suspension of domestic competitions has made it worse. The interim board announced the freezing of all transfers until all its obligations are paid. Last summer Zamalek had to let go several key players like Ibrahim Salah, Ahmed El-Shennawy, Sabri Rahil, Abdoulaye Cisse and Alex Mendomo for lack of funds. Midfielder Nour El-Sayed and forward Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek have also threaten to quit the club if they do not get their money. Source: Ahram Online