Cupido out, but Stephens returns for Stellies semi-final

STELLENBOSCH FC's 1-0 victory over AmaZulu on Tuesday evening came at a major cost, with striker Ashley Cupido expected to be out for “a minimum of six weeks” and miss this week’s trip to Zanzibar for the all-important CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against Simba FC.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Cupido hobbled after just 10 minutes when his hamstring went “pop”, and was replaced by South Africa Under-20 forward Langelihle Phili.

Stellies coach Steve Barker conceded that Cupido, who worked tirelessly leading the frontline in the quarter-final against Zamalek in Cairo last week, would not be on the flight to the East African island.

“Yeah, it looks like it’s a bad hamstring, so unlikely that he’ll (Cupido) be available,” Barker said.

“We'll assess (on Wednesday). But he says he felt it pop.

“So, when that happens, it's probably, you know, minimum six weeks out. Unfortunate for him, unfortunate for us, especially with Bradley Mojela still out and Ashley, it’s obviously not ideal. But yeah, we have to find solutions.” Cupido’s absence has left Barker with a mini-crisis upfront, with Mojela, of course, still recovering after undergoing knee surgery in December, although there were positive signs of him kicking a ball in training recently.

“He's promised me if we make the final of Confed, he'll be available,” Barker joked.