Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
JUST a week ago Emmanuel Jalai’s destination was hanging in balance.
There were strong interest from champions Scottland while there were offers from the Middle East and North Africa on the table for the Dynamos captain.
And DeMbare too were in the thick of things, promising to improve their captain’s earnings if he was to decide to stay at home.
In the end, South African side, Durban City, did the unthinkable.
Zimpapers Sports Hub can exclusively reveal that the player will be getting more than six times what he was getting monthly at Dynamos, apart from winning bonuses.
And that puts him in the same region with some of the high earners in the local Premiership — those above US$5 000 monthly.
“Yes, it will be around that range, and the sign-on fee also is slightly above some of the highest sign-on fees from the ambitious clubs in Zimbabwe, which is very good for him,” said a source close to the deal.
“So the two-year deal, with a two-year extension option, was based on a good package. But what was more important for him, though, was to explore football outside Zimbabwe.
“That’s the only way he can reach another level and get other experiences. Look, there were other deals on the table, but Durban City’s offer was more concrete and ideal for the player at this stage.”
Although the exact figure for his sign-on fee was not revealed, the indications given point to something in the range of US$20 000 to US$30 000 (SA Rand equivalent).
Durban City have, however, not revealed details of the package.
The Betway Premiership side is not among the big boys in terms of ability to pay players big money, and what they have pulled off shows how much they rate him, insiders say.
The former Dynamos captain was part of the Warriors squad that recently played in Morocco in the 2025 AFCON finals, and he showed his quality playing along with foreign-based players.
He played a big part in the first two matches against Egypt and Angola.
For Jalai, however, money alone was never the deciding factor.
He leaves Dynamos as a legendary figure, having captained the club through their toughest period when they survived relegation on the last day of action.
At Durban City, he will bring not just his talent but leadership.
In a heartfelt social media post, he thanked the coaches, teammates, staff, and the club’s “seven million” supporters.
“The honour of wearing the armband of this great club is a memory that will live with me forever,” he said.
“I will FOREVER remain one of you. My love for the club will never die.”
Now to settle in South Africa, Jalai begins a new chapter and is set to continue defying odds like he has always done in his last six years at DeMbare.
