Cape Town City young gun Keanu Cupido is ready to step up in a big way as the club target a maiden PSL title this season.
Ahead of the campaign, which kicks off away at Baroka FC on Saturday, City boss Benni McCarthy has lamented that a shortage of experienced defenders in his squad could scupper their ambitions.
Stalwart Taariq Fielies is hoping to make a speedy recovery from a botched appendectomy last month.
Amazingly, centreback Fielies is back at training, joking with the Daily Voice that he is “out of his coma”.
But 21-year-old defender Cupido is fired up to show that he has the mettle to give City the best foundation possible in their bid to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns.
RECOVERING: Taariq Fielies. Photo: BackpagePix.
The youngster says: “My vision is to start as many games as I can. I got a taste of the PSL last season.
“I was with the [Bafana Bafana] Cosafa Cup squad earlier this season. It was a great experience. I’m proud of what I’ve done.
“And while Taariq is out, I have to be the one who steps up. Hopefully he returns soon and picks up where he left off.”
BACK IN CAPE: Mobara. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
But until then, Cupido is happy to work alongside fellow youngster Keith Groenewald and experienced utility back Abbubaker Mobara.
And he says his partnerships with the new arrivals are blossoming nicely.
He adds: “I have been playing with Keith and Bara in friendlies.
TIP: Vasili Manousakis. Photo: BackpagePix.
“My combination with Bara is growing. His positional sense is so good and his opens the game up and I’m learning a lot from him, he can play anywhere on the pitch.”
City assistant coach Vasili Manousakis rates the Joburg-born kid highly and expects him to make the step up from the Cosafa Cup squad to the senior Bafana setup soon.
Manousakis, who will take charge of the Baroka game while McCarthy is in Scotland for the birth of his son, says: “He’s matured so much since he came back.
“He is unbelievable.
“If this guy doesn’t play for Bafana senior national team soon, I’ll be surprised.”