Makhanya Earns Praise After Stellar Showing In MLS Next Pro

South Africa youth international defender Olwethu Makhanya has earned praise for his display as he steered Philadelphia Union II into the Eastern Conference finals.

Makhanya, 20, has yet to make his first team debut in Major League Soccer for Philadelphia Union since his lucrative R8.5-million transfer from Stellenbosch.

 

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However, his performance in the playoffs and season overall will no doubt attract attention from the first team and potentially elsewhere as his career reaches a crossroads.

The towering striker netted the opening goal in the 1-1 draw against Crown Legacy, the reserve team of Charlotte, before scoring in the 5-4 penalty shootout win to set up a tie against Columbus Crew II for the deciding fixture before the MLS Next Pro final.

“I thought he had a fantastic performance, maybe the first 20 [minutes] we were a bit rocky, a bit rusty after not playing a few weeks but after that he really stood out against top-level players,” head coach Marlon LeBlanc said after the game.

“[Idan] Toklomati, $3.5-million, Charlotte spent on that striker, Neil Pierre and Olwethu were outstanding against him, against those first-team forwards, they stood tall.

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“Olwethu in particular had a fantastic game like I said after the first 20 minutes he settled in, and won some big headers, particularly on set-pieces because they are an outstanding set-piece team because of their size and strength, physicality and athleticism.

“He made some great plays and obviously the goal, it was great to see him get on the end of one our set-pieces in the end.”

Makhanya has featured 29 times for Union II, scoring two goals since his arrival from the Cape Winelands outfit.