Zamalek SC head coach Jose Gomes reserved some kind words for Kenya Police FC players after the 1-0 win over the Law Enforcers in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.The competition’s defending champions walked away with the victory after Police’s defense was caught napping in the 45th minute when an unmarked Abdallah Sayed got onto the end of a free kick pass just on the edge of the box to give Zamalek the important away goal and victory.Police who are newbies in the competition impressed Gomes who took time in his post-match press conference to praise the Law Enforcers players. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8333662##“They have very good players and the energy that they put here, I think some of them can play at the high level, they can move to better leagues in the world,” he said.On his assessment of the match, the 54-year-old tactician said that it was a difficult match especially when his side started losing control of the game.“It was a tough game of football. At the beginning of the match, we started well, we did what we had planned, kept the ball for much of the period, pressed high and recovered the ball quickly.Why Jesse Were’s experience will be key in Police’s quest for victory over ZamalekMaybe for the attitude or something but we then started losing the ball much, and gave Police a lot more space and did not press as we wanted,” he added.The Portuguese also highlighted the biggest strength his opponents posed in the first-leg encounter.“They were so strong in set pieces and the long throws from which they created some chances.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8333657##After starting the match on a slow note, Police grew into the match and started creating more chances, especially in the last quarter of the match. Zamalek then resorted to protecting their lead and Gomes says that was not voluntary.“It was a forced strategy to sit back. We were pressing in the wrong way so it was better to drop the players, keep the lines closer and don’t give spaces between the lines,” he stated.Asked whether he considers the qualification a done deal ahead of the second leg in Cairo;Government announces Kasarani Stadium completion date“No. Of course not. If we could not have respected them today, we could have lost the game and if we don’t respect them in the second leg, it will be the same thing because 1-0 means nothing,” he concluded.Zamalek welcomes Police on Friday 20 September at the Cairo International Stadium.
