Olwethu Makhanya's Visa Drama and Rangers' Defensive Needs

Olwethu Makhanya hadn’t even kicked a ball for Rangers and already the alarm bells were ringing again.

The South African defender, a £3 million arrival from Philadelphia Union, touched down at Ibrox last week as one of the centrepieces of Derek McInnes’ rebuild. His debut didn’t come in the 1-1 draw at Dundee United – that was always going to be too soon – so attention quickly swung to Europe and the Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok.

That, fans thought, would be his stage.

Then the visa saga flared up.

Visa drama, take two

Makhanya’s move has already been shadowed by paperwork. Initial visa issues sparked concern before MP Dr Zubir Ahmed intervened to help push the process over the line, calming nerves and clearing the way for the defender to join his new club.

But just as Rangers supporters began to look ahead to seeing him in blue for the first time, a fresh twist arrived. When the squad boarded the flight to Poland for the first leg against Jagiellonia, Makhanya wasn’t on it.

Social media did the rest. With Rangers already stretched at the back, the sight – or rather the absence – of their new signing on the team flight sent anxiety levels soaring.

The context made it worse. Ben Godfrey, expected to be a pillar of McInnes’ defence, limped off at Tannadice and is now out for around four weeks. That leaves Emmanuel Fernandez as the only other senior central defender fully available. In that light, Makhanya wasn’t just a new face. He looked essential.

Why Rangers need him now

Godfrey’s injury has stripped Rangers down to the bare bones in central defence at the very moment the season is starting to bite. Domestic points already dropped, a European tie with a physical Jagiellonia side on the horizon, and a new manager trying to bed in his ideas – it’s a delicate mix.

Makhanya, known for his aggression and physical edge, appeared to have the perfect opening to walk straight into the team. A high-stakes European debut, a chance to make an instant statement, and a manager who badly needs solidity.

So when supporters realised he wasn’t on the plane, panic was inevitable.

The tension eased when Rangers fan outlet Four Lads Had A Dream moved to clarify the situation. Makhanya hadn’t been dropped. He hadn’t suffered a late injury. He was in London, finalising his visa approval so he can be fully registered and ready to play.

The plan is simple: complete the paperwork in the capital, then link up with the squad in Poland. Barring any late complications, he will be available to make his debut against Jagiellonia. So too will fellow new signing Daisuke Yokota.

From crisis to opportunity, all in the space of a day.

McInnes searching for his first win

McInnes knows he can’t wait long for his first competitive victory as Rangers manager. The draw at Dundee United carried the hallmarks of a side still learning each other’s movements and the manager’s demands – flashes of promise, patches of uncertainty, and a sense of a team still under construction.

Certain pillars are likely to remain. Lawrence Shankland, Thelo Aasgaard, Ivor Pandur, Tuur Rommens and Fernandez are all expected to keep their places after starting the league opener. Beyond that, the team sheet feels open.

The Europa League, though, is not a laboratory. It’s unforgiving. Jagiellonia will not arrive as tourists or soft touches. The tie is expected to be physical, scrappy at times, and played on the edge – exactly the sort of contest where a defender like Makhanya can impose himself.

That reality may force McInnes’ hand.

Thrown in at the deep end?

Rangers could yet field a side stamped heavily with the new era. Makhanya and Yokota are both in line to feature, with Youssef Chermiti, Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic all pushing for starting roles as well. Dragojevic, in particular, is tipped to come in for one of two potential debuts in a predicted XI that already looks different from last season’s version of Rangers.

For Makhanya, the scenario is stark but enticing: arrive late, step into a patched-up defence, and handle a bruising European tie with minimal bedding-in time. No gentle introduction. No easing into Scottish football. Straight into the heat.

Rangers need his steel. The supporters need reassurance. McInnes needs a result.

If the visa stamp lands in time, the South African’s first touch in a Rangers shirt may come in a game that shapes the early tone of the season – and sets the standard for what this rebuilt back line is going to be.