While Stellenbosch FC and SA u.20 starlet Faiz Abrahams (pictured) is left a frustrated figure and feels that he’s being “thrown to the wolves” by the people that orchestrated his season loan move to a second division team in Israel – His refusal to return to loanee club, Hapoel Kafr Saba in Israel, has resulted in the club threatening the promising youngster with legal action.
This comes after Abrahams missed the deadline to return for duty at Hapoel following a two week break back in Cape Town, South Africa.
The 20-year-old Abrahams, whose loan agreement runs until June 2026, is now refusing to return to a country where he is “struggling emotionally” to adapt after making the controversial move to Israel just a couple of months ago.
Needless to say, this move definitely raised questions and eyebrows, especially given the fact that Abrahams is of Islam faith – questioning the merits of the transfer in the first place as it was never in his best interest to carve out a career in light of the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Ironically, the skilful attacker has been a revelation and made an immediate impact on the field with four goals and two assists in 10 games.
However, the Stellenbosch-winger, who came back to Cape Town for a holiday during the international break in November last year, cited personal reasons for not wanting to return to his club in Israel.
This subsequently prompted Hapoel to take legal action after Abrahams did not respond to their correspondence which demanded his return on three occasions sent from Adv. Nir Inbar as well as Adv. Assaf Gofer from Nir Inbar Sport Law.
Abrahams also voiced his concerns and reasons to Hapoel explaining that he is going through some challenging times as a young pro footballer in a foreign country.
“My decision not to return stems from an extremely difficult and painful personal position that has developed since my departure,” Abrahams wrote to his Hapoel on 30 November 2025. The core issue is that returning to Israel under the current heightened public scrutiny would, in my genuine belief, expose my family to a level of sustained reputational and social risk that feels untenable.
Abrahams further elaborated: “I am caught between my contractual duties and have a profound fear for our standing and safety within our own community.
“I fully acknowledge and take responsibility for my absence and for the significant disruption and difficulty this has caused Hapoel Kfar Saba FC. It was never my intention to disrespect the club, my teammates, or the supporters who welcomed me.
“I am genuinely sorry for the sporting and financial impact my actions have created, particularly during a decisive phase of the season. While I understand that my social media activity may suggest otherwise, my faith is a source of personal solace during this crisis, not an indication of my ability to fulfil professional duties under normal circumstances,” Abrahams’ letter read.
According to Abrahams’ parents, Muneer and Fazlin Abrahams, they have exhausted all avenues to try and resolve the situation amicably but without any luck.
“It appears that Stellenbosch FC is no longer interested in assisting us and just wants Faiz to return to the club,” Muneer told No Bones with Jones. “He (Rob Bernadie, Stellenbosch CEO) is also not responding to our messages, and they are nowhere to be seen or heard.
“My wife broke down in tears during one occasion when she went to speak to Rob and his agent. I rather opted not to attend because I was extremely disappointed. I mean, they said they would monitor his progress and support him with the move but why aren’t they helping us?
“It’s like he’s been thrown to the wolves. We will have to getr him some counselling as he doesnt know what to do as he has never been in this position before but no one is there to assist us,” Muneer added.
Meanwhile, Hapoel gave Abrahams an ultimatum to return to the club by 26 November 2025, and that failure to do so will result in a “disciplinary violation and shall be treated in accordance with the Disciplinary Regulations of the Israeli Football Association.”
Hapoel is of the opinion that due to the fact that Abrahams cut off all contact with the club representatives and that the club had no knowledge of his whereabouts, therefore Hapoel would consider his behaviour as a unilateral termination of the Contract without just cause.”
“Attempts to contact you through third parties failed as well. Hence the Club hereby demands your immediate return to Israel, by no later than 21 November 2025. Please contact us immediately to coordinate your flight ticket,” Hapoel’s correspondence to Abrahams stated.
Siyavuma’s big boss Paul Mitchell, whose agency represented Abrahams, stated that they always try to do their “level best”, whatever the situation is at the agency.
“At the moment, it is pending with the clubs, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” Paul Mitchell stated to No Bones with Jones.
Our website also reached out to Stellenbosch FC’s CEO, Rob Bernadie, who has opted not to reply.
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