- Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy revealed that Orlando Pirates protested against his eligibility just as he was about to enter the field
- The protest centred on McCarthy's previous trials with Pirates and his links to Jomo Cosmos, which raised questions about whether he had obtained proper clearance
- McCarthy opened up about the incident during an appearance on the Izinja ze Game podcast, sharing details of the dramatic moment at the old FNB Stadium
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy has lifted the lid on a tense moment from the early days of his career, revealing that Orlando Pirates formally protested against his participation as he prepared to come on as a substitute for Bloemfontein Celtic in September 1997.
McCarthy, now 49, shared the account during an interview on the Izinja ze Game podcast, describing the scene at the old FNB Stadium during what he believed was a midweek fixture.
**Pirates Challenged McCarthy's Clearance**
"It was September, but I can't recall the date. I think it was a midweek game at the old FNB Stadium, and I was in the team but on the bench. As I was about to enter the match, Pirates protested," McCarthy said.
The protest stemmed from McCarthy's history with the Buccaneers, having previously attended trials with the club, alongside prior connections to Jomo Cosmos. Pirates believed he may not have secured the necessary clearance to line up for Celtic.
"They protested because I was at Pirates for trials and the Cosmos story. Obviously, they thought I was a defaulter, that I didn't get my clearance. The late John Moeti went to the referee to protest," McCarthy recalled.
He expressed surprise at Moeti's involvement, noting that the Pirates official had no personal knowledge of him. "I said, 'Why?' because John didn't know me. Somebody on the team said something," he added.
**McCarthy Made His Debut Despite the Protest**
The intervention did not prevent McCarthy from taking the field. Officials allowed him to play, and he completed his debut despite Celtic going on to lose the match 1-0.
"I still went into the field and made my debut. Fortunately, we lost 1-0, but I made my debut. I think it was 1996 or 97, but it was 1997 in September," McCarthy said.
The defender went on to represent Celtic before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2000. It was, however, his subsequent five-year spell at Kaizer Chiefs that defined his career, during which he claimed two league titles with the Soweto club.
Source: Briefly News