‘It’s a trust issue’: Joseph Makhanya on overlooked Chiefs youngster
Orlando Pirates reserve team head coach Joseph Makhanya has singled out a Kaizer Chiefs youngster whose professional career has been stalled by “a trust issue”.
Makhanya, who coaches the Pirates DStv Diski Challenge team, believes 22-year-old Rushwin Dortley has benefited from getting the trust of his coaches at Cape Town Spurs. Dortley has had a good start to life at Chiefs, and earned himself starts at Bafana Bafana.
The former Bucs winger, Makhanya, is convinced Aiden McCarthy could be playing in the top-flight with a bit of trust at Amakhosi. The 20-year-old left-footed defender was promoted to the first team two years ago but is yet to make his debut.
He came close to a loan switch to Moldova during the last transfer window, but the move collapsed at the eleventh hour. He has since returned to play for the Soweto giants’ DDC side.
Interestingly, Makhanya previously worked with the youngster at Panorama FC at Under-15 level.
He believes McCarthy’s votes that put him ahead as one of the five DDC players to play in the Carling All Stars team to face Magesi are a reflection of his quality.
Makhanya was speaking on the sidelines of a Carling Black Label Media event in Sandton, Johannesburg.
WHAT ORLANDO PIRATES DDC COACH JOSEPH MAKHANYA SAID ABOUT AIDEN MCCARTHY
“[His selection] It’s a reflection of his qualities. To your surprise, I worked with Aiden when he was still an Under-15,” Makhanya responded to FARPost.
“I coached him at Panorama. So he is a player that I know personally, and I felt that [not playing for the Chiefs first team] also is a trust issue.”
He added that when the team was“ supposed to promote Aiden, they went on to sign Dortley”.
Makhanya is convinced the biggest difference in the development paths of the two players is that “Dortley was given a platform at Cape Town Spurs.”
“The younger teams promote these young players …because they don’t have the financial muscle to sign players,” he explained. “So now, the same players that are being introduced by these younger teams get bought by these so-called bigger teams. So the bigger teams are saying that maybe we need to be brave enough and start playing these kids because if we are to check age-wise; you see the transformation of Dortley.
“Dortley is maybe 22, so you check. Aiden is almost the same age. It means the bravery of Cape Town Spurs has helped Dortley to grow. Whereas the not so brave decision from Kaizer Chiefs to introduce him has not yielded results.
“As a result, Aiden suffered. We’ve had a lot of those cases in big teams whereby a lot of talented players are not being given a platform.”
The ex-Orlando Pirates player – Makhanya pointed to Stellenbosch FC, winners of the inaugural Carling Knockout Cup last year, as one of the teams excelling at transitioning players to the professional ranks of football.
CARLING BLACK LABEL CUP DETAILS
The Bucs legend noted that the Carling All Stars team is a huge opportunity for McCarthy to showcase his talent. The Carling Black Label Cup is set to take place on 21 December, where Carling Knockout champions Magesi will take on the PSL All Stars.
Just like last year, fans are to vote for the six senior players and five who will make up the DDC stars Carling All Star XI.
“It’s a platform again for Aiden to make sure he goes in there without trying to prove a point. But to make sure that the enjoys himself and showcases his talent.”
“Maybe it will open up the market to other teams where smaller teams can feel that they can be brave enough to even buy him from Chiefs so that he also makes a debut,” Makhanya concluded.
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