Ashley Cupido has completed a season-long loan move from Stellenbosch FC to Israeli side Kiryat Yam, a switch the Bafana Bafana forward hopes will reignite his goal-scoring form after a stop-start campaign in the Cape Winelands.
The 25-year-old, who joined Stellies in a big-money move from Cape Town Spurs in 2024, struggled for consistent minutes last season and will now look to rebuild his confidence in Israeli football.
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“Yes, I feel this is a good opportunity for me just to get back to my best, considering how the last season played out. I think this opportunity is best for me. Getting back on track and scoring,” Cupido tells iDiski Times.
The forward was candid about the geopolitical backdrop of the move, acknowledging the reality of relocating to a region that has seen ongoing tension, but insisted his focus remains solely on football.
“I wasn’t really too excited, considering what is happening around the world, but at the end of the day, I’m a footballer, and that is my main focus, being on the field and playing. And I hope after this opportunity there will be more doors open for my career.”
Cupido’s move comes off the back of a whirlwind rise that saw him break into the senior Bafana Bafana setup, a call-up he still regards as one of the highlights of his career, even though it didn’t translate into a World Cup berth alongside his international teammates.
“Being part of the national team is always a dream. And for the most part, I was always happy. Yes, I would have liked to go with the boys to the World Cup. But I don’t really feel that unhappy. I’m just proud of how far I came, and hopefully there will be more opportunities.”
For Stellenbosch, the loan offers Cupido a clean slate away from the pressures of the PSL, while allowing the club to manage its striking options for the season ahead without losing him permanently.
For Cupido, Kiryat Yam represents a chance to rack up minutes, rediscover his scoring touch, and use the loan spell as a springboard back into regular first-team football – and, he hopes, back into the Bafana Bafana fold with his stock rising once again.
*This story first appeared in this week’s iDiski Times e-paper, edition 163.
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