Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya played the full 90 minutes as South Africa were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Kenya in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, and head coach Pitso Mosimane defended his selection afterwards.
Coach hits back at critics
Makhanya, 22, won his fifth cap for his country in Johannesburg but failed to deal with a forward ball that Kenya capitalised on to score an equaliser in injury time.
Mosimane reacted angrily when asked why the Ibrox youngster and defensive partner Ime Okon were preferred to Chicago Fire's Mbekezeli Mbokazi in the heart of the backline.
Speaking after the clash, Mosimane told reporters: "Oh, come on guys… you can't go there, you don't want me to lose respect for you. Now you choose who must play?"
Result and context
South Africa sit top of Group D with seven points from their first three matches but missed the chance to open up a three-point lead over second-placed Guinea going into their three remaining games.
Mosimane continued: "We lost (drew) because of that, or we lost because we missed many chances? Come on, you can do better than what you say." He then sarcastically added: "And it is the right time to ask by the way, you are right."
The head coach added: "Football tells you that it is not about ball possession or about how many chances you score. It is about how many chances you take. Kenya showed you don't need many chances to cause an upset. The few chances they got, they used them."
Former praise for Makhanya
Earlier this month, former Manchester United and South Africa international Quinton Fortune hailed Makhanya as 'unbelievable' since making the £3million switch from Philadelphia Union last summer.
Fortune said: "I watched Olwethu Makhanya a little bit when he was in MLS before and his transfer to Rangers has been a great move for him. It is unbelievable that he is able to play for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. But that's what he had to do - go up another level."
He added: "The MLS, with all due respect, is a great league, but European football is just a bigger stage. He will improve there at Rangers and he has already played in the Old Firm match. I mean, you couldn't ask for a better experience in football. The Old Firm is football at its most pressurised. Getting a move like this is all part of the process that will ultimately help to take South African football up to the next level."
