More than 20 years since his father first pulled on the Kaizer Chiefs jersey, Aden McCarthy made his debut in the famous Gold and Black colours on Saturday, and now a verdict has been issued on his display.
The young defender is son to Fabian McCarthy, who etched his name as a defensive stalwart at the likes of Bloemfontein Celtic, Mamelodi Sundowns, Chiefs, and Moroka Swallows, amongst others.
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He came up from Amakhosi's reserve team and recently helped them secure the DStv Diski Challenge title. McCarthy played on the left of a back four before coming off for Njabulo Blom in the 86th minute in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune United at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
"Given that it was his first match, he performed well. With more game-time, I believe he can improve," assesses Farouk Khan, speaking to KickOff.com.
"He did extremely well for a debut. He identified the right opportunities to play the ball forward, kept his play simple, and didn’t lose possession unnecessarily.
"Typically, there’s a level of nervousness on a debut. I was quite impressed with how he handled it."
The former Chiefs assistant cautions against putting unnecessary pressure on McCarthy by comparing him to his father.
"I don't think people should compare him to his father. They are two different individuals. Aden has the potential to reach a similar level, but comparisons can create pressure that is not helpful.
"He first has to prove himself, just as his father did. My advice to him is: 'Take one game at a time, don’t look too far ahead, and listen to your father. He has been there and done that'.
"One of the great things about his father, whom I coached at Chiefs, was his humility. He was down-to-earth and always willing to learn.
"I believe these are qualities that Aden will adopt as he moves forward. The coach, Nasreddine Nabi, praised him, and players like Aden should have the opportunity to play. He won’t improve by sitting on the bench.
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"On Saturday, he faced a tough challenge right away, and he did well, so we should give him the benefit of the doubt.
"He needs game-time, just like (Mbekezeli) Mbokazi at (Orlando) Pirates. He shouldn’t be sitting on the bench. Experience comes from playing," says Khan.
