Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] captain Aden McCarthy has opened up on his Moldova experience ahead of the Carling Black Label Cup on Saturday. Fans voted McCarthy to be in the starting lineup of the Carling All-Stars XI.
The select side, voted by over 4.5 million fans, will take on Magesi FC, the Carling Knockout Cup winners. Saturday’s match kicks off at 15h30 at the Orlando Stadium.
McCarthy, the promising young defender and son of Kaizer Chiefs legend Fabian McCarthy, spent some time with Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova earlier this year. The club assessed him and were reportedly impressed. While Sheriff Tiraspol initially expressed strong interest in signing the South African youth international, they ultimately opted for a more experienced centre-back.
Despite the setback, McCarthy returned to South Africa and continues to excel in the DDC, aiming to impress senior team coach Nasreddine Nabi.
WHAT ADEN MCCARTHY SAID ABOUT HIS MOLDOVA EXPERIENCE
“The experience I had in Moldova? It’s helped me grow, to help me grow mentally more than physically,” McCarthy responded when asked by FARPost. “You know, it’s, it’s funny how important the mental aspect of footballing is and not many people know about that.
“So, it’s helped me grow in that aspect. In terms of my game, it’s just taught me to keep it simple. That’s what you see in Europe. And yeah, it’s more about the technical quality.”
Orlando Pirates reserves coach Joseph Makhanya recently said the 20-year-old’s professional career had been stalled by “a trust issue”. Interestingly, Makhanya previously worked with the left-footed defender 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 reflect his quality.
“[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.”
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