Newly signed Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya has opened up about the approaches from Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns before he signed with the Major League Soccer (MLS) side.
Makhanya, 19, moved from Stellenbosch FC to the American side on a three year deal with an option to renew for two more years after playing just one season in the DStv Premiership.
The teenager was one the players promoted from the Stellies development side and played 24 matches across all competitions last season, while also being named Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player.
He spoke to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in the current edition of the newspaper where he admitted to being courted by Chiefs and Sundowns, however, he also clarified that Chiefs’ chase didn’t last too long while the defending champions wanted to sign him and loan him back to his former side.
“Yes here at home it was only Sundowns I was talking to. I did speak to Chiefs but when the season ended I expected to hear from them and they went quiet,” Makhanya told iDiski Times.
“So by the time the season was ending it was only Sundowns who stayed in touch. Sundowns wanted to sign me but loan be back to Stellenbosch.
“That means I was going play another season in the PSL with Stellenbosch and maybe go back to Sundowns when the season ends. So that was going to take a long time and who knows how long this opportunity to go to the MLS was going to be available for.
“Opportunities like this are rare so when they come one needs to take it over staying another season in the PSL. I was already playing in the PSL but I have never played in the MLS so when this opportunity presented itself, I just had to take it.”
You can read Makhanya’s full interview with Kganyago in edition 114 of iDiski Times available on the website.
