Chester—Olwethu Makhanya on the field is a relentless, aggressive, towering force as part of the Philadelphia Union’s strong back line, and has deservedly garnered much praise this season. Off the field, the 21-year-old center back from South Africa is one of the nicest, most humble people you will meet—a class act. The kind you want to see succeed.

His journey in Philadelphia began with being the first U22 Initiative signing for the Union, playing for Union II in 2023 and 2024, and finally getting his opportunity to be a consistent starter with the Union in 2025. In my interactions with him and observations of his play, including during his time with Union II, I have been nothing short of impressed. Sure, there have been ups and downs, but he learns and gets better.

As he was trying to break into the MLS level while playing with Union II in 2024, if he was feeling frustrated, it certainly did not show on or off the field as he kept his head down and worked hard, and helped lead that squad to the MLS Next Pro Cup (yes, to address the elephant in the room, he got a red card in that game). That perseverance, however, finally paid off for him when Coach Bradley Carnell put his trust in Makhanya as an opening day starter, and he has now cemented his place in the roster and has racked up the accolades.

This week it was announced that, along with Quinn Sullivan (6th) and Frankie Westfield (18th, and another incredible story), Makhanya was ranked as one of Major League Soccer’s “22 under 22.” Coming in at number 13 on that list, Makhanya has also been lauded by some, including Dax McCarty, as one of MLS’s top defenders of the season.

I had the opportunity to speak with Makhanya at training on Friday on a beautiful, seasonably slightly-chilly October morning of training. With several players away during the international window, the first and second teams had just completed a spirited scrimmage between each other.

So you were recently named to the 22 under 22 for MLS. Can you describe how that felt being recognized for your hard work on the field?

Olwethu Makhanya: I mean, honestly, it’s an honor for me to be part of the group that was selected. And it means a lot to me, to work hard and be recognized, you know, is everything. So that means a lot to me.

You joined Quinn Sullivan and Frankie Westfield on that list as the only team in MLS to have three players named. Can you speak on your thoughts on both Quinn and Frankie, and what you’ve seen from their play this season to get on the list?

OM: I mean, the guys have been working really hard, you know? I mean, their hard work is showing off, showing, you know, the contribution that they had into the clubs’ success so far. Yeah, it just shows that they’ve been putting in the work.

Philadelphia won their second-ever Supporters’ Shield last Saturday. First, can you talk about the emotions you felt lifting the shield, and what that moment was like celebrating with your team?

OM: I mean, honestly, I can’t even describe it. You know, winning the Shield means a lot because it’s something that we’ve been working really hard towards, and we’ve talking about it a lot, you know, putting in the work for it, and finally, to be able to reward ourselves with the Shield—it’s a feeling I cannot explain, but it just that it’s a motivation for me and the guys to just keep on going.

Looking back in January, and then throughout the course of the season, is there a certain point where you personally felt this team had it in them to win the Shield? And if so, what was that point in the season?

OM: I mean, I would say, honestly, a few games into the season, we showed why we are capable, winning games home and away, being able to keep clean sheets that kind of show, and made us believe that if we can keep this going, then we really do have a chance. So, yeah, I would say, a few games into the season, we kind of felt like we had a chance.

Then for you personally, where do you feel you’ve made the biggest growth in your game?

OM: Honestly, I would say the coaching staff has contributed big time in my confidence as a player. I have learned to be confident in my abilities. I’m confident in the team’s style of play, and just that kind of allows me to to be able to to play freely and be able to communicate with the guys, which makes my job a little easier. So, yeah, I would say I’ve grown a lot in those in those areas.

There have been some learning moments for you this season as well… red cards, and maybe some mistakes along the way. When those things happen, how do you approach them? Just maybe learning moments to further improve yourself? And how has Coach Carnell helped you in those moments?

OM: I mean, yeah, we do talk about those things, you know, and like you were saying, I just see it as, like, you know, learning curves. We learn all the time. So every time there’s a little setback, I just take it as an opportunity to learn something new and and try to be better in the future. So yeah, that’s how I view it.

Bradley obviously played a part in giving you the belief and confidence starting you, but what player or players on the first team gave you the confidence that you belong here too?

OM: I would say, at first, I would say Jakob [Glesnes]. He has been a really good role model. Even at training when I, you know, make, like, a few mistakes, he’s always there. He’s always there next to me, to encourage me. And just even [Olivier] Mbaizo, like all the other guys… Andre [Blake], you know, they just told me, if I make a mistake, it happens. Everyone makes mistakes. The most important thing is just learning from those mistakes.

The squad has won three straight now, coming off those trips to Nashville, Vancouver. Just anything that changed in terms of lessons from those matches that ignited maybe a spark in the squad these last few matches?

OM: Oh yeah, of course, of course. I mean, every game that we play and results don’t come our way, we always go back to the drawing board and try and see where we could have been better. So those games are just like learning games to us. You know, those are the games that help us improve as players, because they always kind of expose the areas that we need to work on. So if we lose again, we go back to the drawing board and then work on it, and then come on better.

You guys lead the league with the fewest goals conceded. Bradley and a bunch of your teammates always say it starts with the strikers applying the pressure, but how much easier does your job become with Danley [Jean Jacques] and Jovan [Lukic] in front of you?

OM: I mean, you know, if everyone in front of us is doing their job, it makes it easy, because the pressure doesn’t have to come all the way to us. So them playing their part just makes it easy for us, because we are able to talk to them, and we just do everything as a team.

And then how do you feel like the matches like last Saturday [against NYCFC], helped you all prepare for the playoffs?

OM: I would say, obviously, we finished the game with the win. So I would say, mentally, we are in a good space—we believe in ourselves. So, yeah, I feel like the last game has prepared us well.

Lastly, with the Supporters’ Shield wrapped up a week earlier, how do you guys go back and regain focus with the game against Charlotte coming up?

OM: I mean, right now we just need to look at the game as a game to keep on preparing for the playoffs. So, yeah, looking into that game, we just take it as a game to just keep on working and just prepare yourself mentally and physically for the playoffs.

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The Philadelphia Union did what few on the outside expected them to do when they won the Supporters’ Shield. Players like Makhanya, Westfield, Lukic, and more have surprised many with how well they have done this season, and they keep getting better. There is belief within the squad amongst the players and coaches. Young players have been given the chance to prove themselves, and while there have been learning moments, they have been crucial pieces of the success. Olwethu Makhanya is just of those rising stars to keep an eye on as the Union look to add a different kind of star to their crest.

Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union