Assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has issued his assessment of DDC graduate Aden McCarthy, who delivered a Man of the Match performance in a win against Stellenbosch.
The Soweto giants kicked off their 25/2 season on a positive note with a convincing 2-0 win over 10-man Stellies at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, thanks to goals from Glody Lilepo and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.
READ: FIVE players still at risk of leaving Kaizer Chiefs
It was centre-back McCarthy, though, whose tidy work in the heart of Amakhosi's defence earned him a Man of the Match award.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ben Yousseff said the 21-year-old had earned his spot on the team.
"Aden, he was with us last season in the training. We have to say thank you also to our coach for the DDC, they prepare them for us," the assistant coach said.
"We keep in contact [with the DDC coaches] every time to discuss the availability of the players, if they can help us, or if they are ready or not? I think Aden was with us when we started the league.
READ | Pirates coach: My plan for Appollis...
"Then his performance. He was not very good last season, but we discussed with him, and I have to say thank you to him.
"He keeps working, and he finished with the season with us. He played the last two games, I think, and in the camp, he was one of the best players for us. So like I said, he deserved to play, and we don’t give him a gift.
"His performance allowed him to play for the team."
McCarthy will aim to continue where he left off when Chiefs host Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:30.
