NafisaA former Rangers player has made it clear that he is determined to change the way supporters view his time at Ibrox after returning to Scottish football with a fresh opportunity to rebuild his career.
His spell in Glasgow brought moments of promise, but injuries and inconsistent availability made it difficult to establish himself as a regular starter. Despite making a considerable number of appearances, he believes the overall perception of his contribution has become unfairly negative.
Now back in Scotland, the winger has a chance to show that there is more to his game than the reputation that followed him away from Rangers. A new club, a new manager and the prospect of regular football could provide the platform he has been searching for.
The 26-year-old is not pretending that everything went perfectly during his previous spell in Scotland. Instead, he has pointed towards the impact of injuries and the difficulty of regaining rhythm after periods on the sidelines.
His latest comments also make clear that he has not given up on proving himself in Scottish football, despite a frustrating spell abroad that failed to provide the fresh start he wanted.
The player in question is Rabbi Matondo, who has joined Hibernian on a deal running until the end of the season after leaving Norwegian side Brann.
Matondo arrived at Rangers from Schalke in 2022 and made 70 appearances for the club, although only 26 of those came as a starter. His time at Ibrox ended in March this year when he departed for Brann, hoping to revive his career away from Glasgow.
That move, however, did not work out as planned. Matondo made just four substitute appearances in Norway before returning to Scotland to take up the opportunity offered by Hibs.
Speaking on Friday, the Wales international admitted that he wants to challenge the impression he believes many people formed of his Rangers career.
“I had three-and-a-half, four years at Rangers and I enjoyed it but there’s probably some unfinished business at my end,” he said on Friday.
“I feel like people talk as if I didn’t do anything at Rangers, and that’s the narrative. But, of course, there were a lot of ups and downs with injuries.
“And when you come back from injury, you’re having to get that consistency, that rhythm and stuff. I feel like there were times when I was playing and I was playing well.
“But when you get hit with injury and then you come back and try and get back in the team, it’s not quite the same.
“The unfinished business is not to do with Rangers. It’s just to do with, in terms of myself, trying to be as fit as I can, stay injury-free and play football.
“Maybe the narrative is that I’m this player or that player, ‘he doesn’t have this’ or ‘he doesn’t have that’. I want to prove that I do have what it takes to succeed in Scotland, and that’s my aim this season.”
Those comments offer a clearer explanation of what Matondo means when he talks about unfinished business. Rather than suggesting he wants a return to Rangers, he is focused on demonstrating that injuries, rather than a lack of ability, prevented him from showing his best football consistently.
His record at Ibrox was a mixture of appearances from the start and opportunities off the bench. The winger’s challenge now is to turn the potential he believes remains into regular performances and a sustained run of fitness.
Hibs have given him an opportunity to do precisely that, handing him a contract until the end of the season after he joined the club on a trial basis during their recent training camp in La Manga.
Matondo could make his debut against Dundee United at Tannadice, although he acknowledged that his lack of regular starts means he will need to rebuild match sharpness.
“It’s been a long time since I started a game and been in a club environment on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “But I’m raring and ready to go so we’ll see what the manager decides.”
The fixture will also mark the beginning of a new era for Hibs under Dutch manager Marink Reedijk, who succeeded David Gray just over a fortnight ago.
Reedijk has used the time available to introduce his methods and get to know the squad, describing the intensive preparation period as a demanding but productive experience.
“We did everything in the two weeks which we wanted to do and even more than I thought was possible,” said the former Beveren boss, reflecting on what he described as a “pre-season on steroids”.
“It was very intense. A lot to do, to discover, but it was really good. I think we got the ideas across properly. We got to know the players, staff and club a bit better by the day. Long days, but very fruitful days.
“But will it take time? Yes. Do you have time? No, because I want to win the first match. The longer we are here, the better the ideas will come to life.”
For Matondo, the immediate priority is to earn his place in Reedijk’s plans and make the most of the opportunity in front of him.
His Rangers chapter is over for now, but the debate surrounding his contribution at Ibrox has clearly stayed with him. Whether Hibs can help him change that perception will depend on his ability to stay fit, earn regular minutes and deliver on the pitch.
The winger has made his intentions clear. He wants to show Scottish football what he believes it has yet to see from him consistently.
Nafisa
