Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Aden McCarthy made his UEFA Champions League debut against Manchester United, sending Amakhosi supporters into celebratory mode.
The 21-year-old centre-back was named in the starting XI for Sabah’s clash against United at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
McCarthy put in a decent individual performance despite Sabah eventually suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat against the Premier League giants.
His appearance was met with plenty of excitement from Chiefs supporters on social media, with some going as far as labelling their former academy graduate the best defender in South Africa.
Aden McCarthy makes Champions League debut
McCarthy came through the Chiefs academy at Naturena before leaving the club to continue his career abroad.
His former boss, Kaizer Motaung Jr, was also quick to celebrate the defender’s achievement.
“Proud of you Aden. KC Academy,” Motaung Jr wrote on social media.
Chiefs supporters were equally vocal in their praise for McCarthy, with many proud to see a player who came through the club’s academy competing on one of the biggest stages in world football.
AkanimiltonM wrote: “You can see by the way Aden McCarthy plays that he graduated at La Naturena academy. The biggest institution in Southern Africa.”
Njivana wrote: “I don’t think there can be any words to describe my happiness right now seeing Aden McCarthy playing UEFA Champions League football at Old Trafford.”
MashoodoZ added: “I remember how Aden McCarthy was called a dirty player for his hard tackling and today I’m watching him tackle Mbeumo like it ain’t no thing… He is strong.”
While the result was disappointing for Sabah, McCarthy’s Champions League debut represents another significant milestone in the young defender’s career and one that will have caught the attention of his former club’s supporter