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Ajax Cape Town are negotiating with former Portuguese youth international Joaquim Lupeta

Former Portuguese youth international Joaquim Lupeta. Picture credits: Gallo Images
Former Portuguese youth international Joaquim Lupeta. Picture credits: Gallo Images

Ajax Cape Town are negotiating with former Portuguese youth international Joaquim Lupeta who has been released by Bidvest Wits after just a single season at the club‚ officials said.

The Cape Town club are looking for a forward to beef up their squad and compete for a starting berth with Tashreeq Morris‚ Prince Nxumalo and Nathan Paulse.

Lupeta played for Portugal at under-18 level and with his beefy build made a big impression in trials at Wits this time last year with much expectation on him going into the new season.

But he proved profligate in front of goals‚ spurning a host of easy chances in matches and was quickly sidelined by coach Gavin Hunt.

In the end‚ he made just five appearances in the starting line up and came on nine times as a substitute‚ failing to score a single goal

The 23-year-old Lupeta was born in Lisbon but his parents come from the Congo.

As a junior he was highly rated in Portugal‚ playing for FC Porto’s juniors and winning nine caps for the national youth team.

Nxumalo finished as the second highest scorer in the Premier Soccer League last season but has battled with epilepsy.

Ajax were forced to leave him out of several matches over fears for his safety last season.

Morris returned to action midway through the season after recovering from a bad knee injury while Paulse‚ who is now 34-years-old‚ is no longer able to be used in every match and will be more of an impact player in the coming campaign.

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