Olwethu Makhanya credits Bradley Carnell for revival at Philadelphia Union

The 21-year-old joined the club just over two seasons ago but struggled for regular game time under the previous coaching staff. 

Since Carnell’s arrival, however, Makhanya has become a key part of the squad, featuring in 35 matches so far, and the defender – speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube, said he owes much of his resurgence to his compatriot. 

"When I first got here, I was facing a lot of challenges and kind of didn't have a good relationship with the previous coach, and when the team brought in Bradley Carnell, everything just changed. I feel like I got a chance and I just used it," said Makhanya.

"I feel like, because he's from back home, he understands me as a person and the type of culture and environment that I come from, so that makes it easier to work with him.

"He's a top coach, he works very closely with his players and he likes to have a good relationship with his players, even outside football.

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"Like, for example, when he first got here, he bought me maize meal, so that kind of tells you what kind of person he is, and we also do other stuff outside football.

"Sometimes we even go out gaming with the guys, so he's not just a coach but he's more like a mentor and father to us."

Makhanya is now eyeing a Bafana call-up from coach Hugo Broos, but concedes the MLS remains under-appreciated. 

"I do watch the national team, and I do follow their games, and I feel like the guys have been doing a really good job," he added.

"It's also something that I've personally been trying to work towards – it was actually one of the things that I wrote down for myself to try and achieve this year.

"I mean, if you ask me, I really don't know [if a call-up is close] because I've felt like I've been doing really well, but I think it goes back to the league being overlooked and everything."