Carnell hints at SA defender’s breakthrough at Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union coach Bradley Carnell has suggested that a South African defender may be poised to break into the senior team ahead of the 2025 MLS season.
Carnell joined the club ahead of the new campaign at the start of the year, in January 2025. The mentor is familiar with coaching in the MSL as he previously coached St. Louis and worked with Bafana Bafana International Njabulo Blom.
The 2025 MLS season will kick off on Saturday, 22 February. Philadelphia’s opening match will be on Sunday, 23 February, on the road against Orlando City SC.
Last season, Philadelphia struggled for form and consistency as they ended their campaign 12th on the Eastern Conference log. Therefore, they missed out on the MLS Cup playoffs.
BRADLEY CARNELL SAYS HE’S NOT AFRAID TO USE NEW FACES AND MAKHANYA HAS BEEN GREAT DURING PRE-SEASON
Philadelphia Union coach Bradley Carnell says he’s not afraid to play new players on his team, including SA defender Olwethu Makhanya. The latter has been doing great during the pre-season, according to Carnell.
Makhaya made the switch to the USA after the completion of the 2022/23 PSL season from Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch FC following impressive performances. In that campaign, Makhanya made 24 appearances in all competitions and won the 2023 Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament award.
During his season and a half with Philadelphia, the 20-year-old has yet to make a senior team appearance. The rising star has been playing for the reserve team, Philadelphia Union II, in MLS Next Pro, where he has accumulated 31 appearances.
Makhanya faces competition for a starting position from three other defenders: Norway international Jakob Glesnes, Argentine Ian Glavinovich, and American starlet Neil Pierre.
“It’s tough to say right now [whether we’ll rotate], but what I can say is that I don’t think we have too many midweek games. I think we have four throughout the season, and then there is a potential for an open cup game and maybe a couple more after that,” said Carnell, who is a former Bafana Bafana defender.
“I think the schedule is different from years prior; I can’t say how and what happened prior. But I’m never afraid of changing, I’m never afraid of fresh faces in the line-up, I’m never afraid of using all the substitutes. I’m excited, only I can give is what I see at training, whose earning and whose deserved of those minutes.
“We don’t have the condensed schedule as years prior; we’ll evaluate and see as needed. I think everyone who has played in that centre-back role, Olwethu Makhanya, has done a great job [in pre-season]. Ian Glavinovich, we know the quality he can bring in.
“I know Jakob Glesnes is finding his feet again in terms of getting back to the old Jakob. Neil Pierre is going through that growth, development process as well…”
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