Keeper Al-Sayed was stripped of the team captaincy after encouraging a dozen of players to file complaints against the Cairo club over unpaid wages.

When asked about his reaction to the controversial decision, the 33-year-old said he will immediately part ways with Zamalek should he be officially notified of the armband withdrawal.

Later on, Zamalek's football director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed that Al-Sayed is no longer the team's skipper, before the club fined the Egypt goalie EGP 50,000 for his 'unauthorized media statements'.

On the ongoing row, Zaki said to FilGoal.com: "Abdul-Wahed doesn't need an armband to prove he's a leader, everybody knows his role in the team.

"He needs to calm down and avoid rushing a decision. He's a Zamalek homegrown player … the armband isn't worth making a problem for."

On the other hand, Zaki believes those who demanded their overdue payments have every right to be paid their salaries.

"They are asking for their money and they have to be paid, but the circumstances of the revolution left Zamalek in a financial predicament," stated the former Wigan Athletic star.

"Now we need to focus on the future after the Egyptian Premier League resumption to claim the title."

The competition resumes Wednesday after the lengthy stoppage that was prompted by the January-25 Revolution, which instigated the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak on February 11.

Zamalek, who last won the league silverware in 2004, are on top of the competition's table with 32 points, three ahead of closest rivals Ismaili, six of arch-foes Ahli.