Aden McCarthy savours maiden Champions League victory as Sabah FK bounce back

Aden McCarthy is relishing his first Champions League triumph with Sabah FK, following a 2-0 victory over Slavia Praha on Wednesday night. This win comes after Sabah's opening 4-0 loss to Manchester United, and marks a strong return to form for the team as they prepare for the remaining six fixtures in the league phase. The match took place at Baku Olympic Stadium, and proved particularly significant for McCarthy, as his mother Melissa was present in the stands, wearing his jersey to support him.

McCarthy has frequently emphasized his mother's crucial role in his career, acknowledging that while his father, former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fabian McCarthy, receives more attention due to their football connection, Melissa has been the family's backbone. "I need to give credit to my mother," he stated in an interview with kaizerchiefs.com. "People post about my father because of our football link, but my mother has been our backbone."

McCarthy has also become an essential player in Sabah's quest for the domestic title, featuring in every match this season. Sabah currently sits in second place on the table with 16 points, tied with leaders Neftçi PFK, who have played an extra game. Maintaining this high level of performance both at home and in Europe will bolster McCarthy's chances of being called up to the South African national team, Bafana Bafana, under head coach Pitso Mosimane, who is committed to recognizing and rewarding in-form players both locally and internationally. Sabah's next Champions League game is at home against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.