With debate on whether Kaizer Chiefs defender Aden McCarthy deserved the Man of the Match award against Polokwane City, his father Fabian has revealed a message he gave his son.
McCarthy was named the official Man of the Match against City, an award he won for the second game running after he also got the accolade in Chiefs' opening game against Stellenbosch.
Although there were no eyebrows raised when the 21-year-old was named the best player against Stellies, tongues are now wagging after the son of Fabian, an Amakhosi legend, received the award against Rise and Shine, with social media critics questioning whether the award was on merit.
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According to performance statistics by soccer24, McCarthy was rated joint-second with a mark of 7,8/10, only bettered by Makabi Lilepo, who was rated 8/10 (among Chiefs players).
Against City, the young left-footed centre-back was rated (of Chiefs players) joint-fourth at 7,1/10, with Thabiso Monyane, Inacio Miguel and Siphesihle Ndlovu leading with a rating of 7,7/10 each, followed by Gaston Sirino at 7,6/10 and Sibongiseni Mthethwa at 7,4/10 (Amakhosi players only).
Fabian, meanwhile, was struggling for words to describe how proud he his that his son won the Man of the Match award against Stellenbosch.
"I think he just gave a good performance, he did well, I didn't expect the Man of the Match performance, clean sheet, that's all I said, 'Keep it tight, make sure you don't let them go past you'," Fabian said on 947's MSW before the game against Polokwane.
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"He has to (do better than his father). Remember we're here, our fathers set the tone for us to go higher than them, so no we're setting it on for them to go to the highest level
"Very humbled, very proud, very priceless moments that one just has to embrace and say 'Thank you Lord for giving me such a kid and for keeping him in a safe place'. I said 'Congratulations, you need to double up now'," the Amakhosi legend revealed.
Chiefs will host Richards Bay next Tuesday in their upcoming Betway Premiership clash.
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