Orlando Pirates winger Karim Kimvuidi was also on the radar of Algerian giants JS Kabylie before unexpectedly surfacing in Israel, where he made his debut for FC Ashdod over the weekend, despite no confirmation from the Buccaneers or the Israeli club of a completed transfer.
Kimvuidi, who was officially listed in Pirates’ 34-man squad for the 2025/26 season, played the full 90 minutes in Ashdod’s 2-0 Israeli Cup defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday.
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His sudden appearance has left supporters puzzled, particularly as Siya sources indicate that the 23-year-old had not yet signed permanently with the club prior to the game.
As reported by the Siya crew, it’s understood that Kimvuidi arrived in Ashdod just four days before the match and was registered as a foreign player for the fixture – a scenario permitted in Israel for “test matches” outside the league programme.
His performance in midfield appears to have impressed head coach Haim Silves.
While it remains unclear whether a formal offer was ever tabled to Pirates, either from Ashdod or JS Kabylie, the door now seems open for a permanent move following his encouraging cameo.
“What I am aware of is that JS Kabylie in Algeria has also been keen on the player. I guess we will know during the course of the week about the player’s future,” said the source.
Kimvuidi joined Pirates from Maritzburg United in 2023 but struggled for regular game-time, making only a handful of appearances in Black and White. His last competitive outing for Bucs came in the 2024/25 season before being linked with a possible exit.
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Known for his dribbling ability and attacking flair, the DR Congo international will be aiming to reignite his career abroad, with Ashdod reportedly keen to secure his services for the season.
Whether Pirates will issue a statement to clarify the nature of the switch remains to be seen.
