Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi praised Amakhosi debutante Aden McCarthy, after the 21 year-old was given his first Premier Soccer League start in the 1-1 Betway Premiership draw with Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
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McCarthy played at left back and generally gave an assured display, with Chiefs missing several defenders through injury and suspension.
Chiefs’ Nabi – ‘A very good performance’
“I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Aden McCarthy. It was his first game in the Premier League and he gave a very good performance,” Nabi told SuperSport TV.
The draw at Sekhukhune keeps Chiefs in ninth place in the Premiership, tied on 31 points with eighth-placed Chippa United and tenth-placed Marumo Gallants.
A win at home to Polokwane City, who are two points above Chiefs in seventh, in their last league game of the season on May 24 should be enough to qualify Chiefs for next season’s MTN8. But the Nedbank Cup champions have made it difficult for themselves after a run of eight Premiership games in a row without a win.
“In the last game we need to fight for the three points. It will not be easy but we hope to get some players back from injury and suspension,” added Nabi.
“Today we had no defender on the bench. But congratulations to the players, they gave everything to get the three points (today), but there is still a chance and we will do everything we can to finish in the top eight.”
Sekhukhune are chasing third place and a spot alongside Chiefs in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup. And it looked good for Eric Tinkler’s side on Saturday. as they took a fourth minute lead through Mpho Rammala.
‘A deserved point’
Glody Lilepo, however, equalised on the stroke of half time for Amakhosi. The draw means Sekhukhune have been over taken by Stellenbosch, who beat SuperSport United 2-1.
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“We feel three points could have gone either way,” added Nabi.
“Both teams had chances to score. But with all the absences that we had, we feel it is a deserved point.”
