Rangers boss McInnes praises Makhanya after impressive Conference League debut

Rangers head coach Derek McInnes has praised Bafana Bafana defender Olwethu Makhanya after the 22-year-old delivered a composed performance on his UEFA Conference League debut.

Makhanya has quickly emerged as a trusted option for McInnes since joining Rangers, and impressed as the Scottish club began its European campaign. His display combined defensive aggression with calmness in possession, the qualities that originally persuaded Rangers to sign him.

The South African only recently moved to Ibrox from Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union. The transfer marked another major stage in a career that had already taken him from Stellenbosch to MLS and now into Scottish football.

McInnes believes Makhanya has adapted particularly well to the demands of his new surroundings, despite arriving from a different style of competition.

“Very much so, to be honest,” McInnes said in his post-match press conference.

“He has come from the MLS, which is a different type of football.

“We have seen a lot of games in the MLS, it is a bit slow and pedestrian, but what we liked about him when we watched him was his ability to go man-to-man, to not lose a foot race, and his calmness on the ball.”

Those attributes were evident during Makhanya’s first European appearance for Rangers. The defender showed the ability to compete directly with opponents while remaining composed when building play from the back.

His performance was particularly notable because he has joined a squad that is still being reshaped under McInnes. Rangers are continuing to introduce a number of young players, meaning Makhanya’s arrival has come during a period of adjustment for both the individual and the team.

McInnes said the defender had responded positively to the challenge and deserved recognition for the way he had settled into an unsettled environment.

“He dealt with everything asked of him and you are right to mention him,” McInnes said.

“He has come in when the team has not been at its best, he has come in from the outside and tried to settle in.”

Makhanya’s progress forms part of a wider integration process at Rangers, with McInnes warning that the club’s younger recruits will need time to become fully accustomed to their new surroundings. However, the manager believes the early signs from the former Stellenbosch player are promising.

“We have a lot of young players that have come in that we are trying to integrate,” he said.

“But he has done really well, and I think there is a lot more to come.”

The Conference League appearance followed Makhanya’s domestic debut at Ibrox earlier this month and represents another important step in his introduction to European football.

His growing role at one of Scotland’s biggest clubs will also be encouraging for Bafana Bafana, as the defender looks to establish himself more firmly at international level. With his Rangers career beginning positively, Makhanya now has the opportunity to build on a first European outing that has earned strong approval from his manager.