Rangers head coach Derek McInnes says Olwethu Makhanya was a positive light for the club after his Scottish Premier League debut.
Makhanya, 22, made his debut for the club in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernian this weekend, in which he was thrown into the deep end without a pre-season with the club.
Having arrived last week after his R75-million transfer from Major League Soccer outfit Philadelphia Union, Makhanya was needed immediately in defence amidst several injuries.
And it proved to be one he displayed exactly why the Scottish giants lured him from America, with 103 touches, 84 of his 93 passed completed, eight of his 10 long balls accurate, and winning six of his eight duels.
“I do think the positives from the game, Makhanya did very well for his first 90 minutes since the 29th of May,” McInnes said.
‘He fits Rangers’ style of play perfectly’
It’s one of the primary reasons he was lured to the club, according to his representative, Matthew Moore, of Centre Circle.
“I think the way Rangers play football, it’s a team that builds out from defence, and if you’re trying to do that, Olwethu is a great player for you, he can pass long, and break lines, he’s good with combination play with midfielders,” Moore tells iDiski Times.
“I think for the way they play, he suits them perfectly – and yeah I think the versatility to play left and right centre-back that it’s a big strength for him.
“He grew up as a right centre-back being right footed, but when he moved to left centre-back he’s done really well there. So that versatility, combined with him fitting their style of play, was a great determining factor for Rangers to push ahead [to sign him].”
Makhanya will now be aiming to make his UEFA Europa League debut on Thursday when Rangers host Polish outfit Jagiellonia Białystok at Ibrox – needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg, round three qualifying tie.