Former Bafana Bafana legend Aaron Mokoena has revealed why he is convinced Europe-based defender Aden McCarthy will soon force his way into Pitso Mosimane’s national team setup.
Azerbaijan-based McCarthy hogged the football limelight in recent weeks after featuring for his club Sabah FK in a CAF Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite the Azerbaijani champions enduring a 4-0 defeat, McCarthy gracing a football theatre like Old Trafford left an impressive mark.
The 22-year-old defender moved to Sabah after a full season playing Betway Premiership football and CAF Confederation Cup football with Kaizer Chiefs. This followed his rise through the Amakhosi development ranks.
However, despite McCarthy being a regular for Sabah, Mosimane left the centre-back out of the squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as the international friendly against Egypt. Even the absence of the injured Mbekezeli Mbokazi could not create space for McCarthy in the Bafana set-up.
The experienced coach has trusted Germany-based Ime Okon, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Khulumani Ndamane, Olwethu Makhanya, Nkosinathi Sibisi and national team newboy Lebone Seema as his central defenders.
‘THE SKY IS THE LIMIT’: MOKOENA BACKS MCCARTHY FOR BAFANA
McCarthy already boasts experience with Bafana, although at the 2025 COSAFA Cup, where he partnered Okon at the heart of defence under coach Vela Khumalo. He also played the two-legged 2024 CHAN qualifier against Egypt as Molefi Ntseki coached South Africa to the continental tournament reserved for home-based players.
But he was not part of the finals co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Before graduating to the senior team, McCarthy played for the South Africa national Under-20 side.
“The fact that he has a couple of national team caps under the leadership of Molefi Ntseki, CHAN team, there is a nice growth for him. I see a [bright] future for the boy,” Mokoena told FARPost in an interview.
“I think at the moment he is actually developing very well. I’m not saying he is still a youngster; I’m sure at the moment Aden can play in any league, at any club. It’s good that he left the country and he is playing in Azerbaijan, so we need quite a few more players to rub shoulders with the best, for the best of Bafana Bafana.
“Remember that we have a fantastic coach right now, Pitso Mosimane, who believes in experience and talent. So, I’m sure that the sky is the limit for him [McCarthy]. If he does well abroad, I’m sure he will earn his international cap.
“Well done to his parents because I know Fabian McCarthy very well. He played a massive role in moulding a youngster who has respect and loves football.”
MCCARTHY AND SOUTH AFRICANS WHO HAVE GRACED OLD TRAFFORD
After facing Man United on their own turf, McCarthy joined an elite list of South Africans who played at Old Trafford. The likes of Mokoena, Lucas Radebe, the late Philimon Masinga, Benni McCarthy, Shaun Bartlett, Mark Fish, Steven Pienaar, Kagiso Dikgacoi, Matty Pattison, and Lyle Foster played English Premier League games at the iconic venue.
Old Trafford was home to Quinton Fortune during his time at Manchester United. Pierre Issa visited the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ with Olympique Marseille for a UEFA Champions League assignment in 1999, while Percy Tau played there with Club Brugge in a UEFA Europa League clash in February 2020.
“I think it’s good for South African football, the fact that I think at the moment, if we are not seven players who have played at Old Trafford, he might probably be the eighth,” Mokoena went on.
“So to have a youngster like Aden taste how it is to play against an English Premier League club, one of the best in the world, at Old Trafford, the result does not matter. But just being there is absolutely a great deal for him personally.
“I’m sure it has been a dream come true, and it is also good for South African football. Remember, Aden is from the structures of South African football, so I regard him as South African [home-grown] talent.”
RELATED STORY: Ex-Bafana defenders deliver verdict on Aden McCarthy’s UEFA Champions League debut
