Rangers’ Olwethu Makhanya points to mum’s motivation in his football rise
Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya revealed a sharp reminder from his mum kept him going when he wavered in his quest to be a footballer.
The South Africa centre-back has won over the fans at Ibrox with his performances since signing in July from Philadelphia Union on an initial four-year deal, with the option of an additional year.
However, it has not always been easy for the 22-year-old who left home for the first time at 16, moving to Johannesburg looking to get on the football ladder.
A phone call home to his mother questioning his future was met with short shrift and Makhanya carried on, eventually signing with South African side Stellenbosch before moving to the United States in 2023.
Ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final clash with Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday, he said: “I think my parents, especially my mum, played the really big role in me becoming a professional footballer.
“I remember when I first left home, to look for better opportunities in a different city. I went away from home for the first time, tried, but things were not going well.
“I called my mum this one day. I told her, ‘you know what, I just want to come back, maybe focus on education, because maybe football is not for me’.
“And the thing that she told me over the phone was that ‘you left here telling me that you’re going to go play football, so I want you to do that’.
“So I just had to keep on going until things came true for me.
“I would say my dad (helped) as well, and my agency that I worked with at that time.
“They kept on motivating me, even the coach that I used to work with when I was young, he used to speak to me, just letting me know that there’ll be a hard time, but I just need to keep going.
“Honestly, I’ve never seen myself do anything else.
“I would say so far so good (at Rangers). I feel like I’ve been settling in very well.
“To be honest, before I even came here, I always felt like I can play at this level, at a higher level.
“So I wouldn’t say I’m surprised because coming in, I already had the belief that I’ll do well.”
Like several of his team-mates in Derek McInnes’ revamped Rangers side, Makhanya will go into the unknown at the weekend when he features in his first Old Firm game.
He said: “In terms of the biggest atmosphere, I can’t really recall a massive game. So I’m honestly expecting a really, really crazy game from the fans, from the first whistle to the last one.
“I think everyone understands what this fixture means to the club, to the fans, and everyone. So I’m really excited and looking forward to it.
“I just know it’s going to be a very passionate game and I’m just excited to be part of it.”