In a space of two years, Olwethu Makhanya has gone from a relative unknown to one of the brightest prospects in the local game. Initially signed to form part of Stellenbosch FC's DStv Diski Challenge team, a defensive crisis for Steve Barker's side saw the then 18-year-old receive a baptism of fire, one which he impressively survived as he put on one age-defying performance after the other. It is little wonder then that Mamelodi Sundowns had set their sights on the lanky teenager, as reported by the Siya crew, but as it were, they were not the only club monitoring him. Major League Soccer outfit Philadelphia Union, in the Americas, had seen enough of the KwaZulu-Natal-born defender to make him their first-ever player under the league's U22 initiative, having bought him from the Cape Winelands outfit. Before he bid bon voyage to South Africa, Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver had a brief moment with "Tower", as he is affectionately known, to talk about his big move.
Delmain Faver: Olwethu, first things first, congratulations on your big move from Stellenbosch FC to Philadelphia Union!
Olwethu Makhanya: Thank you.
DF: Can you put into words how you feel now that the deal has been finalised?
OM: I feel really blessed to be given such a rare opportunity in my career, I'm really excited and I can't wait to join the team.
DF: How did you reach the decision to make the switch? The Soccer Laduma Siya crew understands that there were big clubs locally who were keen on your services…
OM: It's a decision I took together with my family and agency. As much as there was interest from local clubs, we thought the MLS would be a better move as it would expose me to other big leagues.
DF: What is it that you expect in your new environment? How much do you know about the city and the football there?
OM: I don't know much about the city, but according to the research I have made, I believe it to be a city with rich history and it also has a thriving arts and culture scene. Their football atmosphere is different to ours. Every football team has a large number of supporters, resulting in every football game being packed with thousands of supporters.
DF: It is obviously a life-changing moment for your family having signed a contract like this. How will this change the lives of the ones closest to you?
OM: To my family, having signed such a contract means I will be able to provide back home like I never did before.
DF: That's great. Before you even joined Stellies from Marumo Gallants, you were an in-demand teenager, and again you appeared to have made the right choice in terms of who to play for. Why did you opt for the Cape Winelands as opposed to the bright lights of Johannesburg?
OM: Again, joining Stellenbosch FC was a decision I did not take alone. As much as there was interest from other clubs, we thought it was best to join Stellenbosch as they are a promoting team. The first team works very closely with the reserve team. So, I thought joining the club would give me a better chance of being promoted to the first team compared to the other clubs.
DF: The trajectory of your career is incredible in the sense that a year ago you were signed by Stellies to form part of their DStv Diski Challenge team, and now you are starting a new chapter abroad. Did you ever imagine things would move this quickly for you?
OM: No, as much as I knew such blessings were gonna come at some point, I never thought it would all happen so soon.
DF: For someone who was thrown into the deep end, you managed to swim – and stylishly so. It's not every day a young player like yourself makes his debut against Kaizer Chiefs, as you did in that Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana show at Cape Town Stadium when you guys lost 3-1 in October 2022 and you came on in the second half.
OM: The anticipation was killing me. I played the whole game in my head before we even travelled to the stadium.
DF: Coach Steve Barker spoke glowingly about your potential and how you could possibly be the next Lucas Radebe. How much of what you have achieved is down to the belief from the coach?
OM: I believe it's a step closer to coach Steve's belief, but at the same time, I think there's still a long way to go.
DF: You play the game with a maturity that defies your age. Is it something that perhaps was handed down genetically or something that was nurtured?
OM: I'm not really sure. I think it's a gift, yes, but it had to be nurtured as well.
DF: Naturally, your performances throughout last season led to you being nominated for the DStv Premiership Young Player of the Season accolade. What did the nomination mean to you?
OM: The nomination simply meant that I was being recognised, it validated all the hard work and gave me another reason to work even harder to get more (nominations in future).
DF: You have a management team that has catapulted the careers of many a star before you, with Steven Pienaar and Benni McCarthy two such examples. Is this perhaps the reason behind the switch?
OM: Well, yes, it's part of the reason…
DF: Being part of the Eastern Conference in the MLS means that you could potentially face off against Lionel Messi twice this season. Is it something that crossed your mind when you made the move?
OM: That's just something people I talk to always bring up, that I'll be playing against Messi, but it's not really in my head as I'm more focused on myself. But to think that I'll be playing against the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner does excite me.
Who Are Philadelphia Union?
Interestingly, the MLS side was first formed in 2008, some four years after Makhanya was born, and officially inducted into the league in 2010 as an expansion team. Affectionately known as the Union, they are a modest side, who have only one accolade next to their name, the Supporters' Shield, which is the annual award given to the MLS team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system, back in 2020. They have been bridesmaids a couple of times though, finishing as runners-up of the U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2018, while also reaching the final of the MLS Cup last year. Understandably, they have not had any big-name players as part of their roster, though basketball superstar Kevin Durant is a minority shareholder.
Currently in third place after 23 matches played, behind Cincinnati and New England, the club play their home games at Subaru Park, with a capacity of 18 500, a slight improvement from the 16 000 people that Danie Craven Stadium can hold. A select few matches (like those against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami) are often taken to the 71 896-capacity Lincoln Financial Field. The side's colours are navy blue and gold, representing the primary colours of the Continental Army's uniforms during the American Revolutionary War, according to the club's website. Local derbies are played against New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. This exists because of geographical proximity and the traditional animosities that are prehistorically known to exist between Philadelphia and New York City.
The lanky centre-back will be joining two African players at the club in defender Olivier Mbaizo from Cameroon and Kenya's Richard Odada, but the club has a number of nationalities represented from across the world.
OLWETHU MAKHANYA FACT FILE
Full name: Olwethu Mpilwenhle Makhanya
Date of birth: 30 April 2004
Place of birth: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Nickname: Tower
Position: Defender
Jersey number: Not yet assigned
Club: Philadelphia Union (USA)
Previous clubs: Black Leopards, Marumo Gallants, Stellenbosch FC
Honours: 2022/23 Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament
