/ 29 December 1999

NEW EGYPTIAN COACH UNDER FIRE

EGYPT’S new soccer coach Gerard Gili has already run into trouble with the country’s vociferous media after he banned journalists from the team’s training sessions.

A boycott of the side’s activities was announced by the Sports Journalists Association, whose members walked out of a press conference Gili had just begun and demanded an apology from the Egyptian Football Federation.

Gil’s first game in charge saw Egypt lose 2-1 at home to Ghana and then struggle to beat lowly Namibia 1-0 in Cairo. The side play Togo, then Namibia again, before they start the defence of their African Nations Cup championship.