Durban City FC right-back Emmanuel Jalai is set for a six month-long loan stint at Zimbabwean “moneybags” Scottland FC, FARPost can reveal.
Jalai arrived at Durban City on 22 January 2025, ending a six-year spell with Harare giants Dynamos FC. By joining the Betway Premiership side, he snubbed Scottland FC, who were in hot pursuit of his services at the time.
He will now join the 2025 Zimbabwe PSL champions on loan for half of the 2026/27 season. Durban City FC and Scottland FC sealed a R23.8 million partnership in February 2025 focusing on youth development, tournaments, and coaching exchange programmes.
Scottland FC director Tonderai Sakupwanya called it a “landmark moment for Southern African football”. No player movement or joint tournaments have been held between the two clubs until now.
JALAI SET FOR LOAN AT SCOTTLAND FC AFTER SNUBBING THEM IN JANUARY
As such, Jalai’s return to Zimbabwe is the first deal between the two outfits, as Scottland FC bolster their squad ahead of the 2026 CAF Champions League.
The 27-year-old will return to Durban in January 2027, with his Durban City contract set to run until December 2027.
The Zimbabwe international made 19 appearances for Durban City across all competitions last season, with 15 in the Betway Premiership and four in their Nedbank Cup-winning campaign.
Scottland FC are also in talks with Peter Shalulile over a potential move, with the Namibian striker’s Mamelodi Sundowns contract set to expire on 30 June.
Meanwhile, Scottland’s rise in Southern African football has been rapid. The Zimbabwean champions are preparing for continental football and will face Kaizer Chiefs in the 2026 Toyota Cup.
In addition, this will be their first competitive match outside Zimbabwe, a test of pedigree ahead of their CAF Champions League assignments.
The match is set for 26 July at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Now in its third edition, the tournament previously featured Chiefs against Young Africans of Tanzania in 2024, and Asante Kotoko of Ghana in 2025.
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