‘I Fought My Elders Because I Wanted To Join Chiefs’

Stellenbosch FC defender Olwethu Makhanya has revealed why he chose Steve Barker’s side over his personal first choice Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Makhanya joined Stellies last June from Marumo Gallants’ development and made an immediate impact in the first team during a stellar breakout campaign, where he made 20 appearances in the league and four in the Nedbank Cup.

The 19-year-old, who was named the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the tournament, spoke to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in the current edition of the newspaper, revealing that he also had offers from Chiefs and Sundowns, but his elders advised him that he stood a better chance at breaking into the DStv Premiership under Barker.

Makhanya also admitted that he fought his elders because he wanted to join Amakhosi, the club he grew up supporting, however today, he is grateful to the people who advised him.

“If I’m being honest, personally I was more excited about joining Kaizer Chiefs because I grew up supporting Chiefs, even my family supports Chiefs,” Makhanya told iDiski Times.

“In my head it was all Chiefs but after I spoke to the elders that I trust with a lot of things, people like my agent and my parents, we sat down and talked then we did our research.

“We thought, if I went to Stellenbosch, I stood a better chance because at the end of that season, they promoted I think about five players from their DDC team. At that time I don’t think Chiefs were promoting players to the first team.

“So we thought I stood a better chance of playing in the PSL, if I went to Stellenbosch. Coach Steve works closely with young players. That’s how I went to Stellenbosch.

“Definitely and also let me not lie to you and say I didn’t fight them. I was telling them I want to go to Chiefs and they told me this is a better choice and today I am really grateful.”

You can read Makhanya’s full interview with Kganyago in edition 107 of the newspaper available for free at all Shoprite Stores in Gauteng and on our website from Friday.