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ZEMMAMA GRATEFUL TO HIBS
Zemmama - moving to the UAE.
Merouane Zemmama has thanked Hibernian for allowing him to join Al Sha'ab in the United Arab Emirates so he can be with his pregnant wife.
The 24-year-old Morocco midfielder, who is set to complete a one-year loan move from Easter Road this week, has vowed to return a better player next season.
Hibs agreed to the switch on "compassionate" grounds after Zemmama discovered Home Office regulations prohibited his 17-year-old wife Zineb from joining him in Edinburgh.
She must be 18 before being allowed to remain in the UK.
"I am grateful to the manager and the board for what they are doing," Zemmama told the Hibs' official website, www.hibs.co.uk.
"I will give everyone my personal thanks on Monday. I know as well the support that is there for me from the Hibs fans.
"They have always been very good to me since I first came to Hibernian, and now they are being very understanding of my situation and we are both very grateful for the best wishes they are sending.
"I am well again after my injury and looking forward to playing, getting better over the next year and returning to Hibernian."
Manager Mixu Paatelainen added: "Merouane has three years of his contract to run with us but because of his family situation we did feel it best to allow him to move out on loan.
"We want to support our players on and off the field, and the situation Zouma finds himself in is quite a difficult one.
"It will be a chance for him to stay with his family and hopefully he and his family will come to Edinburgh later.
"I would, of course, rather have kept him here because he is a big player for us and a good footballer, but this I think is the best answer for everyone."
