A 2-1 loss to Hibernian on Sunday was not the Rangers debut Olwethu Makhanya had envisioned for the opening league game of the season at Ibrox. Despite the joy of making his debut, the result ensured there was little satisfaction after the full-time whistle.
With no win in the first three competitive games of the season, the pressure ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League clash has increased substantially.
Despite the result on Sunday afternoon, Makhanya produced a strong showing at centre-back, with many fans singing his praises in his first appearance since joining the club from Philadelphia Union. There is hope that supporters will see these types of performances week in, week out, especially given the current shortage of defenders in the squad.
However, strong performances bring faith and expectation from the fans, the first being to overcome a 2-1 deficit against Jagiellonia Białystok.
“Obviously, walking into such a big club, there are so many expectations,” the 22-year-old said. “There is a good level and good quality all around. It’s been good so far. Yeah, I mean, I’m happy about my debut, obviously, but of course I’m not happy with the result.
“Coming into the club, the first thing I was told is that winning is not everything; it’s the only thing expected. To me, that just shows how high the quality is, or the expectations within the club.
“I feel like Ibrox is a special place to make a debut, in front of all the fans. And I also feel like, even though we didn’t win the game, there are a lot of positives that we can take from it moving forward.
“I’m happy with the debut, but disappointed with the result. We just have to find ways to win.
“Everyone understands what’s at stake tomorrow. They’ve obviously communicated the importance of the game and what is at stake. It’s a game that we need to win in order to progress in the tournament.”
The squad has once again undergone drastic change this summer, with multiple departures and what seems like a countless number of signings. Rangers are set to make their 10th signing of the summer in the form of Couhaib Driouech with up to five more additions possible, to help cover injuries for Tuur Rommens and Youssef Chermiti and add depth out wide and in defence.
The decision to move continents and adapt to a completely different environment is never easy for any player, with Makhanya’s family and agent helping him through the process. Importantly, though, it was the vision and plans put in place under new manager Derek McInnes that helped persuade the South African to move to Glasgow.
He added: “I feel like the conversation that we had with the club, and the plan that we had with my agent, made everyone feel as if this was a good environment for me to come in, develop and keep growing as a player.
“They explained to me that, by coming here, I would be an important player in the back line, and helped me understand the expectations and all that. So that conversation just kind of got me really interested in joining the club.
“I like to discuss things with my family and present the opportunities that are in front of me. They’re always there to support me. I told them how I felt about the opportunity and they will always support me.
“It’s always been part of the dream since I was playing back home. Even when I moved to MLS, it was something that we discussed with my agent: that maybe, if I made the move to MLS, it would give us the right exposure to Europe.”
His performances in the United States did not go unnoticed, with regular exposure to senior football at a young age playing a significant role in his development.
Competing in MLS also gave Makhanya the chance to test himself against experienced international players and adapt to the demands of first-team football — something he believes has left him far better prepared for the next stage of his career. He even shared the pitch with Lionel Messi.
“I mean, when I first moved to MLS, my first season was really difficult. I struggled to get game time, but I feel like that hard moment, or that phase, prepared me for the future.
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“As time went on, I started growing as a player and learning from all the experiences. I feel like, because of the hard and good times I had in MLS, I’m a much better player now.
“For me, it was an unbelievable experience, because everyone growing up looks up to Messi as one of the greatest ever to play the game. Nobody in my life would have thought that I would share a field with him. I feel like that was a really good experience, and it encouraged me to just keep going because you never know what can happen.”
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