Olwethu Makhanya's Visa Drama Ahead of Rangers' Europa League Clash
Olwethu Makhanya has been at Ibrox barely a week and already he’s at the centre of the first mini-drama of Rangers’ season.
The South African defender arrived from Philadelphia Union in a £3million move that felt like a statement: power, potential, and a player built for European nights. He watched from the sidelines as Rangers opened their Scottish Premiership campaign with a stuttering 1-1 draw at Dundee United, the timing of the deal too tight for a debut at Tannadice.
So attention turned quickly to Europe. Jagiellonia Bialystok away. A Europa League qualifier with a bit of bite promised. A perfect stage, on paper, for a new centre-half who relishes the physical side of the game.
Instead, the build-up has been dominated by paperwork and plane tickets.
Visa saga, take two
Makhanya’s arrival has already been tangled up in red tape. Visa complications delayed his integration, with concerns growing until MP Dr Zubir Ahmed intervened to help push the process through. That seemed to clear the way. Rangers had their man, and Derek McInnes had another body for the heart of his defence.
Then came the next twist.
As the squad boarded the flight to Poland, Makhanya was nowhere to be seen. Supporters, already jittery after the opening-day draw and the sight of Ben Godfrey limping off at Tannadice, did not take long to join the dots. No Godfrey for four weeks. Only Emmanuel Fernandez left as a senior recognised centre-back. No Makhanya on the plane. Panic.
Social media did the rest.
The anxiety was understandable. McInnes needs his new signing now, not as a long-term project. Godfrey’s injury has stripped Rangers of experience and presence at the back at the very moment the games start to matter. A Europa League qualifier away from home is not the night any manager wants to be patching together a back four.
But the alarm has been checked at source.
London detour, Poland destination
Fan account Four Lads Had A Dream moved quickly to calm the mood, sharing that Makhanya had not been dropped or delayed again, but diverted. The defender is in London, finalising the remaining details of his visa so he can be fully cleared to play.
The plan is simple: complete the formalities in the capital, then link up with the squad in Poland. Barring late complications, Makhanya will be available to make his debut against Jagiellonia.
He won’t be the only fresh face in the frame. Fellow new signing Daisuke Yokota is also expected to be in contention, adding another layer of intrigue to McInnes’ selection.
For Rangers, the timing matters. This isn’t a dead rubber or a gentle introduction. Jagiellonia are no soft touch, and this tie carries both financial and sporting weight. It is exactly the kind of fixture where a powerful, combative centre-back can set the tone.
McInnes searching for first win – and a settled spine
McInnes walked away from Tannadice disappointed but not despondent. The 1-1 draw looked like what it was: a new squad still learning each other’s runs, rhythms and responsibilities. There were flashes of quality, but not yet the control or ruthlessness expected of a Rangers side.
He knows that has to change quickly. A first competitive win is overdue already, and European qualifiers rarely forgive slow starts.
Certain names look nailed on to keep their places. Lawrence Shankland will again carry the main goal threat. Thelo Aasgaard offers craft between the lines. Ivor Pandur, Tuur Rommens and Fernandez are all expected to retain their spots as McInnes tries to build some early continuity.
After that, the team sheet opens up.
Vanja Dragojevic is pushing hard for a start and could make one of two debuts on the night. Youssef Chermiti and Dan Neil are also in the conversation, part of a group of new arrivals jostling for early influence in a dressing room still being reshaped.
And then there is Makhanya.
Thrown in at the deep end?
Circumstances have a way of accelerating careers. With Godfrey out and the schedule unforgiving, McInnes may have little choice but to trust his new centre-half quickly. If the visa is signed off in time and the travel goes to plan, Makhanya could find himself walking into a Europa League tie as his first Rangers appearance.
It is not the soft landing some managers prefer. It might be exactly what this Rangers side needs.
Jagiellonia bring a pronounced physical edge, especially on their own pitch. This will not be a technical sparring session; it will be a contest of duels, second balls and set-pieces. That is the arena where Makhanya’s reputation has been built. Strong in the challenge, aggressive in the air, unafraid of contact.
If he steps onto the pitch in Poland, there will be no time for easing in. No time for nerves. Just a new defender, a new-look Rangers back line, and a European tie that could set the tone for the season.
For a fanbase that has spent the past few days tracking flights and fretting over visa stamps, the real answer will not come from airport sightings or official updates.
It will come when Olwethu Makhanya finally pulls on that shirt and shows whether he can anchor a Rangers defence on nights like these.
