Aden McCarthy: From Kaizer Chiefs wait to UEFA Champions League with Sabah FK

Aden McCarthy has described the mental challenge of waiting for his opportunity at Kaizer Chiefs before making a rapid move to Europe and appearing in the UEFA Champions League with Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK.

The 22-year-old defender came through the Kaizer Chiefs development system and spent three seasons waiting to be promoted to the first team. After completing only one season with the club’s senior side, McCarthy moved to Europe.

He has since made 14 appearances for Sabah FK in all competitions and has scored once in the UEFA Champions League, with his first goal in the competition coming against Borussia Dortmund.

McCarthy discussed his swift progress with iDiski Times senior journalist Lorenz Kohler in edition 279 of the newspaper. He said the period spent training with Kaizer Chiefs’ first team while playing for the reserve side was difficult, particularly from a mental perspective.

However, the centre-back believes those experiences prepared him for the opportunity that eventually arrived. Despite leaving Kaizer Chiefs after just one season in the first team, he said he would not alter any part of his journey.

“A lot of things happened when they were meant to happen, especially for me,” McCarthy told iDiski Times.

He acknowledged that waiting for his chance had been challenging.

“I know that in the moment of waiting for my chance at Chiefs, it wasn’t very pleasant and enjoyable for me, if I’m being honest,” he said.

“Training with the first team and playing for the reserve team for at least two, almost three, full seasons was a lot to deal with mentally, but it also shaped me into being prepared for when the chance comes.”

McCarthy had not expected his first campaign with Kaizer Chiefs to be his only season at the club.

“When I started my debut season with Chiefs, I never thought I’d leave after just one season with them,” he said.

“Looking back at it, I wouldn’t change a thing, but just be glad that I kept my head on my shoulders and kept my feet on the ground.”

The defender credited his persistence for helping him progress from waiting for a first-team opportunity at Kaizer Chiefs to competing in Europe’s leading club competition.

“The hard work kept me going and got me to playing in the Champions League, which is insane.”