Ashley Cupido (born 5 May 2001) is a South African soccer player who plays as a forward for Cape Town Spurs in the South African Premier Division.[2]

Ashley Cupido
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-05-05) 5 May 2001 (age 23)
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
Cape Town Spurs
Number 29
Youth career
–2020 Ajax Cape Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Cape Town Spurs 108 (29)
International career
2022– South Africa 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 June 2024

He won a senior contract with Ajax Cape Town, as the club was named at the time, in 2020.[3] As the club severed ties with Ajax AFC and became Cape Town Spurs, Cupido established himself in the first team that avoided relegation to the Second Division[4] in both 2020–21 and 2022–22 and eventually contended for promotion to the Premier Division.

When Cupido scored double digits in the 2022-23 National First Division, there were rumours about joining a bigger team, whereas Cape Town Spurs would rather sell the player to Europe on a future date.[5] Transfer rumours continued after the "Urban Warriors" were promoted to the 2023-24 South African Premier Division, and were only mitigated by the Cape Town Spurs being relegated in the end of the season.

[6][7][8]

Cupido was capped for the first time in 2022, playing in a 2022 African Nations Championship qualification match against the Comoros.[9] He was later called up for the 2024 COSAFA Cup,[10] and featured in the first match against Mozambique.

One of Cupido's strengths is his top speed.[11]

References

edit
  1. ^ Ashley Cupido at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ Ashley Cupido at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  3. ^ Jones, Seraj (19 June 2020). "Senior kontrak vir Cupido is 'life-changing'" (in Afrikaans). Die Son. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  4. ^ Mbebe, Sizwe (1 February 2023). "Month of Cupido: Spurs star is shooting allies in his sight". Daily Voice. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  5. ^ Kohler, Lorenz (1 March 2023). "Chiefs, Pirates & Downs Interest In SA Sensation Clarified". iDiski Times. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  6. ^ Gibbs, Herman (22 December 2023). "Cape Town Spurs' Ashley Cupido can put himself on Orlando Pirates Christmas list". IOL. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  7. ^ Madyira, Michael (20 June 2024). "Why Cape Town Spurs' Ashley Cupido is on the transfer radar of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates & Mamelodi Sundowns". Goal. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  8. ^ Fakude, Ernest (23 May 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Cape Town Spurs striker puts in transfer request". Kick Off. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  9. ^ Dindi, Sithembiso (30 July 2022). "Bafana one step away from qualifying for Chan". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Mkhalele names final Bafana selection for Cosafa Cup". Super Sport. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  11. ^ Benjamin, Junaid (18 April 2024). "PSL star that is faster than EPL big names". Kick Off. Retrieved 28 June 2024.