Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy has reflected on the performances of his son, Aden, since the start of the new season, sharing his thoughts on the young player’s progress at the club.
Aden, who is the club’s development product, has had some impressive displays since the start of the 2025/26 campaign in the Betway Premiership.
The 21-year-old centre-back has earned two Man of the Match awards this season. He has been instrumental in the team’s strong start, helping the Soweto giants keep three clean sheets in their first three league wins.
McCarthy, who also featured for Mamelodi Sundowns, believes his son is on the right track, also offering some words of advice.
FORMER KAIZER CHIEFS DEFENDER IMPRESSED BY HIS SON’S PERFORMANCES
“I think he has done extremely well. He didn’t go into the games thinking ‘I want to win Man of the Match’,” McCarthy told FARPost.
“But that shows consistency. It shows that if you have to do what you have to do. He is a leader and he mustn’t be scared to talk to the senior players or give advice or feel that he needs to motivate somebody or so. The same must happen to him.
“Senior players must take these youngsters in, guide them, protect them and give them the necessary information so that they can perform. So far, so good, it’s really looking like the team as a whole has started well.”
Fabian added: “He did very well, in terms of the stats. Obviously, now people look at the stats. He must just stay focused. I said to him, If he sacrifices three to four years now and out of everything, he will benefit for 40 years from that sacrifice.”
ADEN MCCARTHY ENJOYING THE SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE IN HIS FAMILY
The 48-year-old has also given credit to his family for rallying behind Aden throughout his young career.
“We are just blessed as a family to have him, and I am sure he is blessed to have me. I know people just talk about father and son, but there is my wife, his mother, who also played a big role in the family. But she is not a person who loves the media or any attention.”
“I think it’s just the beginning. He knows how to handle it [pressure]. He knows what to do and how to go about it. Only he can do the performance and we will keep protecting and guiding him so that he can keep on performing on the field.”
Aden McCarthy had to be substituted in the first half of last Tuesday’s game against Richards Bay FC after picking up an injury. He is not available for Chiefs’ upcoming league match against Sundowns on Wednesday night at FNB Stadium.
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