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Zamalek coach Will Voigt 'ashamed to be American' in wake of Texas school shooting

Zamalek coach Will Voigt, speaking after his side's BAL semifinal defeat to US Monastir on Wednesday, said he was 'ashamed to be American' on a day when another school shooting devastated his nation.

An emotional Voigt opened the news conference by saying he wanted to give his thoughts on the tragedy, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde, Texas.

Voight, who was a video analyst for the San Antonio Spurs, as well as an assistant coach for the Texas Longhorns earlier in his career, said: "Obviously I'm hurt, I have small children, but I'm also ashamed.

"We have former president who makes disparaging remarks about this beautiful continent as if we [America] have got it all figured out and Africa doesn't.

"To wake up to that, on Africa Day, I was ashamed to be an American. I was ashamed. I just had to get that off my chest."

READ: Everything you need to know about the BAL

Aside from a third-place playoff against FAP on the weekend, Voigt said he was anxious to get home to his children: "I've been away from my kids for quite a while, so for me, [after the BAL] it's about getting back home and being with them.

"My coaching journey has always kind of been one unexpected journey to another. Whatever that opportunity might be, we'll see, but for now, it's about finishing this tournament strongly and getting back home to be with my kids."

Whether Voigt will stay with Zamalek remains to be seen, and he was noncommittal on his future when asked, saying: "My contract was for one season.

"I came in the middle of the season. Zamalek was really struggling [in] second-to-last place in the Egyptian league at that moment. They brought me in to try turn things around. That has been where all my focus has been.

"I'll shift that focus towards our third-place game. After that, we'll just see what happens."

Zamalek's BAL campaign will conclude against Cameroon's FAP on Friday at 6pm CAT [noon ET], and the final will be between Petro de Luanda and US Monastir at the same time on Saturday.

The BAL airs on ESPN in Africa and on ESPN+ and ESPNNews in the U.S.