SA coach Bradley Carnell has explained why rising centre‑back Olwethu Makhanya should be a top priority for Bafana Bafana in future assignments. Makhanya has cemented his role as a defensive cornerstone for the Philadelphia Union under Carnell, appearing in 32 of 34 MLS Eastern Conference matches.
The 21‑year‑old netted one goal in the recently concluded season after joining Philadelphia Union from Stellenbosch FC in July 2023 and quickly became a key figure at the club.
In addition, his dedication was recently rewarded with a contract extension by the American club. Despite his club form, Makhanya has been overlooked for national duty and did not even make the provisional squad.
WHAT BRADLEY CARNELL SAID ABOUT OLWETHU MAKHANYA
And Carnell, a former Bafana defender with 42 caps, called it ‘unfortunate’ as he told FARPost about the qualities that make Makhanya a perfect fit for the national team.
“He’s gifted with his body – athletic and technical. He’s really quick, and he’s been a very good fit for my system. I’m really proud of what he’s done in a short time. His development has been very, very quick, and Bafana can benefit. I feel it’s really unfortunate that he hasn’t been looked at in any of the games or included in any of the national squads,” Carnell told FARPost.
Carnell believes the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a golden opportunity for Makhanya to shine, especially with the spotlight on MLS football.
He added, “Over the next six months, we’ll see more focus on America because of the World Cup. Hopefully, he continues his form. He has a very good capacity to improve and become a really big player for us and for other teams, maybe even in Europe if he wishes to pursue a career in the big leagues there.
“Right now, we enjoy having him here. He’s been a very good professional and is excellent at what he’s doing. We have faith in him, we like what we see, and we still think he can grow. He’s not polished, he’s not perfect, but we love working with him and hope we can develop him even more.”
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