Makhanya Sees Turning Point After Broos Tenure

Olwethu Makhanya has reflected on the difficulties he faced during the tenure of former Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos. Despite establishing himself as one of South Africa’s most promising defensive exports, the Rangers centre-back struggled for regular opportunities and was left on the bench during the FIFA World Cup in June.

For a player in his early twenties, missing out on meaningful minutes at a major tournament can shape the trajectory of an international career. Selection decisions at that level sit within the broader framework of the South African Football Association’s national team structures, which are ultimately governed by global regulations set by FIFA.

New Leadership, New Conversation

With a change in leadership now ushering in the Pitso Mosimane era, Makhanya has spoken candidly about how he felt treated by the Belgian tactician.

“I saw the coaching change as an opportunity for a fresh start in the national team because I always felt like I was overlooked by the previous coach,” said Makhanya, as per SABC Sport.

Coaching transitions at international level typically bring reassessment of tactical models, squad hierarchies and age profiles. For Makhanya, who operates in a role where national teams often seek long-term continuity, a reset under Mosimane represents a rare opportunity to move from the periphery of major-tournament squads into genuine contention for a starting place.

MLS Debate Highlights Broader Perception Gap

One of the talking points during Broos’ time in charge was his criticism of Major League Soccer, where Makhanya spent a formative part of his career. The former coach questioned the level of competition in the American top flight, a view Makhanya found puzzling and unfair.

The defender quickly backed the quality of football in the United States, arguing that some people who dismiss the league have not watched it closely.

“I never understood the criticism because all these people probably never actually watched the MLS. People that really watch that league will tell you that it’s high level football,” he explained.

The discussion goes beyond a disagreement between a player and a former coach. Perceptions of league strength can influence scouting priorities, selection calls and even the balance between Europe-based and domestic-based players in national squads. MLS, operating under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Soccer Federation and aligned with global competition rules, has increasingly become part of that talent map, even if opinions on its relative quality remain divided.

How Makhanya Rates His Career Path

To further illustrate his point, Makhanya provided his own personal ranking of the leagues he has played in, placing the Scottish Premiership at the top of the pile while maintaining high praise for the American system.

“Honestly, if I were to rank them, I’ll put the Scottish Premiership first, second is the MLS, and the Betway Premiership is third.”

That hierarchy underlines the pathway that has shaped his development: from South Africa’s Betway Premiership into Major League Soccer and on to the Scottish Premiership with Rangers. Each stop offers a different competitive environment, schedule intensity and tactical profile, all of which feed into how a national team coaching staff assesses a player’s readiness for high-stakes international fixtures.

For global readers, Makhanya’s view offers a snapshot of how a modern African defender navigates overlapping football ecosystems:

• the Scottish Premiership, part of the European calendar and continental club qualification structure;
• Major League Soccer, which operates with its own conference and playoff format in North America;
• South Africa’s Betway Premiership, sitting within the Confederation of African Football’s club and national-team competition framework.

Selection Stakes for Bafana Bafana

At 22, Makhanya is entering a stage where consistent national team involvement can define the next decade of his career. A centre-back’s partnership choices often remain stable across qualification campaigns, so his ability to convince Mosimane could determine whether he becomes a long-term fixture or remains an option in rotation.

With World Cup and continental qualification cycles structured around defined international windows, every camp under the new coach will carry selection consequences. Makhanya’s backing of MLS and his ranking of the leagues he has experienced are, in that sense, part of a wider argument: that his development path has equipped him to compete for a central role in the national side rather than a place on the bench.

For the national setup, balancing players based in Scotland, the United States and South Africa is not simply a matter of geography. It speaks to how the federation values different competitive environments when building a squad capable of navigating tournament football and demanding travel schedules.

As Mosimane begins to shape his first squads, Makhanya’s comments underline the stakes of these early decisions – not only for one defender seeking a genuine fresh start, but for how Bafana Bafana positions itself within an increasingly globalised player market.