Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya opened up about bringing some South African flair to Major League Soccer in the US.
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The story
Former Stellenbosch FC defender Olwethu Makhanya sat down with his club's podcast to reflect on his time at Philadelphia Union so far.
The Durban-born baller has cemented his spot in Bradley Carnell's Philly side this season in the MLS, having made his way into the side the hard way after grinding in the MLS Next Pro with Union's second team.
With Makhanya in his second year in the US, the centre back has grown more comfortable in his role and playing at a top level.
The 21-year-old was asked about his standout moment of the season, and he mentioned his eye-catching performance against New England Revolution.
In a 2-0 win over New England, Makhanya kept a clean sheet and showcased some of his impressive ball-carrying ability and dribbling skills, as seen in several MLS matches this season, including a backheel pass in the final third, which was one of his highlights in the game.
Makhanya attributes his confidence on the ball to his upbringing, where he played indoor and street football.
"I played a lot of street soccer, so there's a lot of 1-v-1s on the streets. Growing up, my parents couldn’t afford to buy me a pair of boots, so I would wear these oversized boots.
"When you play in oversized boots, you can't kick the ball long, so every time I had the ball, I knew I couldn’t kick it long, so I would always find the short options, and if I couldn't find one, I would have to dribble," shared Makhanya on Union's "The Deep" podcast.
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