Olwethu Makhanya: Bafana Bafana Star Earns High Praise, Wins Man of the Match on European Debut
- South African central defender Olwethu Makhanya claimed Man of the Match honours as Rangers beat Czech side Jablonec 1-0 at Ibrox
- Rangers head coach Derek McInnes singled out Makhanya for praise following the Europa Conference League play-off first leg
- The 22-year-old Bafana Bafana defender joined Rangers this season after featuring for Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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South African central defender Olwethu Makhanya announced himself on the European stage with a commanding performance for Glasgow Rangers, earning the Man of the Match award in a 1-0 victory over Czech side Jablonec at Ibrox on Thursday.
Source: Getty Images
The result represents the first leg of Rangers' play-off for the league phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Makhanya impresses McInnes on debut
Rangers head coach Derek McInnes was full of praise for 22-year-old defender Makhanya following the match, admitting that he had been highly impressed by the youngster.
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McInnes highlighted Makhanya’s transition from Major League Soccer, noting that Rangers had been impressed by his ability to defend opponents one-on-one, match attackers for pace and remain composed in possession.
The Rangers manager also praised Makhanya for adapting quickly despite joining the squad midway through the season and coming into a team that had been struggling for consistency.
He said the defender had integrated well alongside the club’s other young recruits and believed there was still significant room for further improvement.
Makhanya joined Rangers this season from Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer and was also part of Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals earlier this year.
Rangers begin to find their feet
The victory over Jablonec comes after a difficult opening to the campaign for Rangers. The Scottish giants went winless in their first four matches across all competitions, including a UEFA Europa League exit against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok and just one point from their opening two Scottish Premiership games.
However, consecutive wins have provided a much-needed boost, with Rangers also recording a convincing 5-1 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup.
Rangers will head to the Czech Republic next Thursday for the second leg of their Conference League tie before returning to Premiership action against Aberdeen on 30 August.
Bafana Bafana star leaves Sundowns for Europe
Briefly News earlier reported that a Bafana Bafana star has left Mamelodi Sundowns for a summer move to a European club after his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The South African international was reportedly linked with Kaizer Chiefs and has signed a four-year deal with his new club.
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Source: Briefly News
