Latest news with #FabianMcCarthy
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kaizer Chiefs Diski youth revival offers hope amid senior team struggles
Aden McCarthy Former Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy believes his son Aden is ready to make the step up to the first team. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Kaizer Chiefs have not had much to celebrate this season, but their recent Nedbank Cup triumph – coupled with their junior team's success in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) – may lay the foundation for a brighter future and a potential turnaround in the coming campaign. While the senior team battled inconsistency throughout the season, Amakhosi's youth side was a solid force in the DDC, clinching the league title with one match to spare. Neighbours Orlando Pirates have reaped significant rewards from a well-structured youth system. Many of Pirates' current stars graduated from their DDC squad, and now perform on the biggest stages in South Africa and beyond. Amakhosi, too, have shown strong signs in that department. Their development system has produced notable talents in recent years – including Mduduzi Shabalala and, more recently, Aden McCarthy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ With the first team clearly in need of rejuvenation, there is a growing belief that the next step is to give more of these emerging players opportunities in the senior setup next season. Chiefs' DDC assistant coach Dillon Sheppard, who worked alongside head coach Vela Khumalo, believes the league has become a vital component in South African football development. 'If you go through the teams this season, a lot of the players have featured consistently on the bench for the senior teams,' said Sheppard. 'It has played a huge role in providing regular game-time and in increasing the competitiveness of the league. The players are able to make the step up. 'A couple of years ago, the step up from the DDC into the first team was a lot bigger, but that gap has gotten a lot smaller now. 'All the players from the DDC are able to step up and get game time in the first team. 'Now we also see our national teams – both the Under-20 and Under-17 – going to the World Cup, so our development is really in a good place.' The Glamour Boys have, in previous instances, been criticised for not always capitalizing on the youth talent they have. One example of this is TS Galaxy midfielder Puso Dithejane. After coming through the club's youth system, he left Naturena in search of regular senior football and joined the Rockets. The move has proven successful, with Dithejane recently earning a spot in Bafana Bafana's preliminary squad named by head coach Hugo Broos for their two upcoming international friendlies. According to Sheppard, stories like Dithejane's highlight that development success is not only about feeding the first team but also about preparing players for long-term professional careers, wherever they may go. 'We need to look at the positivity of the players we are producing,' Sheppard continued. 'Not everyone will get promoted to your first teams – and that is the reality of it. 'With the likes of Shabalala and (Wandile) Duba, they were all born in 2004, and Mfundo (Vilakazi) in 2005, so we already have four players we've promoted. 'Other players won't have their pathways going into the first team, and they go out and find their careers. 'And that is the reality of football – you cannot play 11 DDC players in the first team. 'There is a lot of pressure at the moment, and it is important that we find these players a pathway, and wish them the best when they do move on.'
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Fabian McCarthy believes son Aden is primed for first team action at Kaizer Chiefs
Ready for the first team football? Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy believes his son Aden is ready to make the step up to the first team after an impressive DStv Diski Challenge campaign, where he captained the club to the title. Photo: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy says his son Aden is ready to make the step up to the first team after a stellar season for the club's DStv Diski Challenge side. The 21-year-old McCarthy, a central defender like his father, played a key role as Kaizer Chiefs' youngsters won the DDC title comfortably. His form for his club also saw him included in the Bafana Bafana B side as they qualified for the African Nations Championships (CHAN). His impressive form for club and country is the reason his father now believes the youngster can make the step up to Nasreddine Nabi's first team. However, McCarthy acknowledged that because of Chiefs' struggles over the last season, it was difficult for the coach to give opportunities to young players like Orlando Pirates have done over the last two seasons.
