South African football legend Quinton Fortune insists Olwethu Makhanya CAN halt a Celtic march to the Premiership title. But he reckons Rangers need him to play like Franco Baresi for that to happen.
Makhanya's Rangers start
The centre back signed for Gers from MLS side Philadelphia Union last month, penning a four-year deal at Ibrox with the option of a fifth. Makhanya made his Light Blues debut in Sunday's defeat to Hibs - just after Celtic had rattled five past Kilmarnock with new £11million striker Kasper Hogh bagging a first half hat-trick.
Fortune, who starred for Man Utd and earned nearly 50 caps for South Africa during his own career, believes his compatriot can help close the gap to the champions - but only if he defends like late Italian legend Baresi. And he'll understand how "brutal" the Scottish Premiership is after sampling his first Old Firm clash in September and the cauldron that is Hearts at Tynecastle.
Fortune's verdict
"Olwethu Makhanya would have to be Franco Baresi to close the gap to Celtic but will be a very good player for Rangers," Fortune told Premier Bet. "Look, he's only 20 years old so he's a young player but I'm so happy to see him make his way from MLS to a big European club. The level in Scotland will be much higher than what he’s used to in MLS. He won’t even understand what’s coming next.
"Once he plays against Celtic, once he plays against Hearts, and all the other strong teams in the Premiership, he will understand how brutal football can be, because of the intensity. That will make him a better player, and that will make South Africa a better team."
Development at Ibrox
Fortune is glad to see Makhanya continuing his career in the Scottish top flight as he ranks it far higher than the standard the 20-year-old was used to in MLS. He continued: "His awareness will have to improve. His concentration will have to get better. I’m just so happy he is going to get this experience that will force him to raise his game because he will get better and better.
"He’s young so he will make mistakes but in terms of his quality, his physique, the size of him and his aggression he has everything Rangers could want. I’ve seen how he throws himself into tackles. The fans there will love that.
"Maybe sometimes he might want to ease up on those tackles inside his own half but you don’t want to take that spirit away from him. It is what makes him a good defender.
"Now he’s at Rangers he can develop his game understanding and how to play as a centre-back at the higher levels. How to communicate, how to organise. It’s not just about being a great centre-back, it’s about adding everything to your game to be part of a great defensive unit.
"I’m just so happy that a young player from South Africa is going to learn at a club like Rangers, because that will only strengthen the national team."
