Damien Cupido

[Brodlach]

As rumoured, Damien Cupido has stood down from playing football because of a gambling problem. Here is the email sent to members from the club:

With the greatest of sensitivity I wish to inform you all that Damian Cupido will be standing down from football effective immediately due to a gambling addiction. Following several meetings between the Club and Damian, both parties have agreed for Damien to take time off from football until he has recovered from his illness.

This decision has allowed Damian to return home to Melbourne where he will seek immediate help to treat this illness whilst also enabling him to have strong family support.


The West Adelaide Football Club will continue to support Damian during his recovery.

All the best to Damien, thats two players we have lost in 2 weeks....hope things dont happen in 3's

[Jimmy]

bloody hell, just as things are looking up for west too

all the best to him.

[JK]

Wow, Westies haven't had much luck this year with issues involving Birss, Hassan and Cupido, all high quality players.

Hope Cupido can overcome his Demons and return to enjoying footy some day, he's an asset and attraction for our competition.

[bloods08]

So glad the club has come out and been open and transparent as to the real reasons why he has left the club. So often in the past this would have been pushed under the carpet meaning the members and supporters had no idea what was going on. Signs we are going in the right direction

[Booney]

Good luck to him and well done to him for allowing the club to be honest in all of this.

I assume, like with Birss, if he had wanted the issue kept private the club would have respected that and I am sure the club will have asked Cupido and Birss if the real reasons could go public.

Like bloods says above a sign the club as a whole is going in the right direction.

[dedja]

I've said it before and will say it again ... not meaning to be callous but I have no sympathy for out of control gamblers.

I do have sympathy for the West Adelaide Football Club though.

[Big Phil]

From the Messenger website...

Link - http://weekly-times-messenger.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/cupido-fighting-gambling-addiction/

Cupido fighting gambling addiction


Damian Cupido

WEST ADELAIDE has just announced star defender Damian Cupido has returned to Melbourne to deal with a gambling addiction.

The Bloods issued a statement that read: ``Following several meetings between the club and Damian, both parties have agreed for Damian to take time off from football until he has recovered from his illness,’’ the statement read.

``This decision has allowed Damian to return home to Melbourne where he will seek immediate help to treat this illness whilst also enabling him to have strong family support.

``The West Adelaide Football Club will continue to support Damian during his recovery.’’

Cupido has played 51 games for West Adelaide since joining the Bloods from South Adelaide in 2007. He played 21 games for the Panthers after an AFL career that included stints at Brisbane and Essendon.

His departure follows the loss of midfielder Salim Hassan who quit the club last week, citing personal and motivational factors.

[saintal]

Hmm, quite a shock really. Certainly seemed down a little on Saturday (usually carves up South Adelaide…)

Hopefully he can sort things out and return in a better state of mind (and fitness).

[wycbloods]

Hopefully he can get his issues sorted out and come back a better person next season. Good to see the club supporting Damien through this and also confronting the issues that football clubs have with their players. We seem to be moving in the right direction as a club off the field as well as on it.

[redandblack]

I've said it before and will say it again ... not meaning to be callous but I have no sympathy for out of control gamblers.

I do have sympathy for the West Adelaide Football Club though.

I don't think West need your sympathy, dedja.

They're doing everything they can to support Damian and help him overcome this problem, a problem that unfortunately affects so many people.

In the meantime, they're showing that they can deal with this professionally and get on with the job of playing competitive football.

All the best to Damian also.

[dodgingandweaving]

Poor bloke. I've seen him down at the TAB across from Westfield Marion many a time.
Didn't look like he was having much luck, and was dressed as though he should be at work.

[dedja]

I've said it before and will say it again ... not meaning to be callous but I have no sympathy for out of control gamblers.

I do have sympathy for the West Adelaide Football Club though.

I don't think West need your sympathy, dedja.

They're doing everything they can to support Damian and help him overcome this problem, a problem that unfortunately affects so many people.

In the meantime, they're showing that they can deal with this professionally and get on with the job of playing competitive football.

All the best to Damian also.

R&B, well done to Westies for how they are handling this, no doubt.

It's just that I have personal experience with a very close relative who couldn't gamble responsibly that clouds my thoughts on this issue.

[southee]

So glad the club has come out and been open and transparent as to the real reasons why he has left the club. So often in the past this would have been pushed under the carpet meaning the members and supporters had no idea what was going on. Signs we are going in the right direction

I take my hats off to Westies for being so open and honest with this issue....something other clubs need to take a lesson from.

Hope he gets through this dark period of his life.....

[mighty_tiger_79]

Poor bloke. I've seen him down at the TAB across from Westfield Marion many a time.
Didn't look like he was having much luck, and was dressed as though he should be at work.

yeah ive seen him there a few times, nice lad to chat too.

never stayed overly long though

[mighty_tiger_79]

Poor bloke. I've seen him down at the TAB across from Westfield Marion many a time.
Didn't look like he was having much luck, and was dressed as though he should be at work.

yeah ive seen him there a few times, nice lad to chat too.

never stayed overly long though

ill also add he's not the only one whos made the quick dash out the door to the right to the ATM

[locky801]

Thats sad news and I hope Damian recovers quickly from what should be classed as a possible deadly disease. well done to the WAFC for their actions and continued support of him. Know I had many a time telling Damian to head back to the Pie Cart, but on the few occasions I saw him play, he did produce that tad of magic. Still reckon Westies played him out of position. All the best Damian, fight hard against a dreaded disease

[dodgingandweaving]

Poor bloke. I've seen him down at the TAB across from Westfield Marion many a time.
Didn't look like he was having much luck, and was dressed as though he should be at work.

yeah ive seen him there a few times, nice lad to chat too.

never stayed overly long though

ill also add he's not the only one whos made the quick dash out the door to the right to the ATM

That ATM is in the worst possible spot..... Has been known to pull me out of strife or put me right in it at times!

[Dutchy]

I've said it before and will say it again ... not meaning to be callous but I have no sympathy for out of control gamblers.

Geez your a nice bloke

All the best to Damien.....

[CedeNullis]

Hope he gets the help he needs to overcome his addiction.
Best wishes for a long lasting recovery.

[Thiele]

All the best Damien. Can it get any worse.