Bafana Bafana defender Olwethu Makhanya has received a major endorsement from former Rangers player Maurice Ross, who believes the South African has the ability to reach the very top of European football.
Makhanya has made an impressive start to life at Scottish giants Rangers following his reported €3.5 million transfer from Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union.
His performances have caught the attention of Ross, who considers the 22-year-old one of Rangers’ best signings this season and believes he could eventually play for a club such as Liverpool.
Maurice Ross believes Makhanya can reach Liverpool’s level
Speaking on the SNN Sports Podcast, Ross praised Makhanya’s performances at Ibrox and highlighted his potential to become an elite central defender.
Ross used Virgil van Dijk’s career as an example of the pathway that can take a defender from Rangers or Celtic to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Van Dijk played for Celtic before moving to Southampton and eventually joining Liverpool, where he established himself as one of the world’s leading defenders.
However, Ross believes Makhanya may not need several intermediate moves to reach that level.
“I think Makhanya has it in him, I think he can go straight to the top. He’s just athletic, calm on the ball, he likes to defend, he loves to be a defender,” Ross said.
The former Rangers defender was particularly impressed by the South African’s athleticism, composure in possession and natural defensive instincts.
Makhanya compared favourably to former Newcastle defender
Ross went further by comparing Makhanya with former France international Jean-Alain Boumsong, who previously played for Rangers before moving to Newcastle United.
Boumsong’s transfer to Newcastle was reportedly worth €11.3 million, making the move a significant step in his career at the time.
Despite Boumsong’s experience and reputation, Ross believes Makhanya has even greater potential.
“I think he’s better than Boumsong, who ended up at Newcastle,” Ross added.
The comparison represents a significant compliment for the young South African, particularly given the expectations surrounding his development at Rangers.
Bafana Bafana defender making his mark in Scotland
Makhanya’s progress in Scotland has also strengthened his position in the national team setup.
The Durban-born defender has been included in Pitso Mosimane’s latest Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.
South Africa will face the Harambee Stars in two November encounters as they continue their qualification campaign.
For Makhanya, the international fixtures offer another opportunity to demonstrate his growing influence and gain valuable experience alongside some of the country’s leading players.
With Ross publicly backing his potential, attention will be on whether the young defender can maintain his impressive form and eventually attract interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.
A move to Liverpool remains an opinion about his potential, not a confirmed transfer link. Nevertheless, the endorsement underlines the high expectations surrounding Makhanya’s future.
