Several PSL clubs could be set to battle for the services of Cape Town Spurs striker Ashley Cupido.
Cupido emerged as one of the top emerging strikers in the country after finishing as top goal-scorer in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with 16 goals for Spurs in the 2022/23 campaign.
The 22-year-old reportedly attracted interest from the traditional Big Three teams in the country, in Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns but instead remained at the Mother City outfit side following their promotion.
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Paul Mitchell, Director of Siyavuma Sports Group, has confirmed in an exclusive interview with KickOff, that there has been interest in Cupido, who finished as leading goal-scorer in the MFC, but the option was taken of giving him experience in the top flight and he has become the leading marksman for the Urban Warriors.
"There was interest after his 16 goals in the second division, of course. The intention was Cape Town Spurs went into the PSL, he was the main man, they obviously wanted to retain him for the PSL and from our side Ashley needed to do that," Mitchell explained.
"He needed to stay with his club and have a season in the PSL with his club in order to take him to the next level and that's what we're hoping to do. But the focus at the moment is no more than Cape Town Spurs."
Cupido has scored six goals in his debut campaign in the DStv Premiership and following talk that Sundowns considered him as a back-up option for striker Peter Shalulile and that the Buccaneers upped their interest in the 2024 January transfer window, the lanky forward could be in demand again in the off-season.
Mitchell is confident that Cupido has had a good season despite playing for a club in the bottom of the log but emphasized that his main focus at the moment is saving the Urban Warriors' status.
"Ashley has had a good season so far, obviously playing at a club that's currently in the relegation battle at the bottom and obviously that's not easy for any player, but he's on six goals. We initially set Ashley a target at the start of the season in terms of his goals, he's on track to get that goal return," Mitchell of SSG stated.
"When a player has got pace to burn like Ashley, who can score goals, who can press from the front, who has a tremendous work rate, these are great attributes to have, and there'll always be interest in the player like that, especially as he is still relatively young, whether it's locally or overseas.
"Our goal as an agency is to always explore the overseas options first. There is some interest, but that’s left until the season ends.
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"For now, what we are asking from Ashley is keep going until the end of the season and score the goals that would keep Cape Town Spurs in the PSL. That's what we all want at this stage. The main focus is keeping Cape Town Spurs in the PSL," Mitchell added.
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