Olwethu Makhanya says his start at Rangers has changed the way he handles pressure. The 22-year-old South African centre-back moved from Philadelphia Union for around £3million in the summer, won the Premiership player of the month award for September, and now says the demands at Ibrox have helped him grow into them.
"But now I understand that pressure is a privilege, especially when you are playing for such a big club like Rangers with all the expectation. I always try to make sure that I’m in a really good place mentally now."
Makhanya also said, "I would say, I’ve improved mentally now. I’m now able to embrace anything I’m going through. There is pressure in every game here and the younger me would maybe have fallen under that pressure."
Rangers' run behind his rise
The form around him has been strong. Rangers have won five straight league games and sit second in the Premiership with 16 points from seven matches, with a +4 goal difference.
Makhanya has also had two Old Firm wins to lean on. Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at home in the League Cup on 13 September 2026, then won 1-0 away on 20 September 2026, and he said beating Celtic twice says a lot about the quality in the squad.
Gough's advice and Kilmarnock next
Richard Gough reached out after Makhanya’s strong start at Ibrox, and the defender said it meant a lot to get advice from a legend. He said Gough talked him through his own journey and told him what to keep doing.
Rangers host Kilmarnock in the Premiership on 10 October 2026 in Rangers vs Kilmarnock, and a win would move them top. Makhanya’s early numbers and his words suggest he is handling the pressure better than most young defenders would.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
