Cheetahs ready to rumble against Pumas

The Board of Directors of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd. hereby provides an update to our stakeholders, partners and supporters regarding the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Board is still looking to fill the CEO position. We believe it is essential not to rush this process, as the right selection is crucial for the franchise's future. Instead of an immediate appointment, the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd are currently following a full-scale strategic plan driven by private investment.

This new direction is guided by a specialized team focusing on the integration of three core pillars:

• Commercial: Strengthening the Cheetahs brand and expanding revenue streams.

• Finance: Ensuring fiscal stability and sustainable growth through strategic capital management.

• Rugby Department: Maintaining excellence on the field and ensuring our players and coaches have the necessary support to perform at the highest level.

By prioritising this strategic plan, we are ensuring that the company, the brand, and the team continue to build on a solid foundation while the search for the ideal CEO candidate continues in the background.

Finally, the Board and management would like to extend their best wishes to the players and coaches for this weekend’s pivotal SA Cup semi-final against the Pumas.

We have full confidence in the team to defend the orange jersey with pride and secure a spot in the final.

The Toyota Cheetahs booked their place in the semi-finals with a dramatic victory over the previously unbeaten Suzuki Griquas last weekend a performance that once again highlighted the character, resilience and fighting spirit within the squad.

The team will face the defending champions, the Airlink Pumas, on Friday evening at 6pm at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport Rugby and CSN.

Meetings between the Pumas and Cheetahs have become known for their intensity and fine margins. Over the past three SA Cup seasons, only five points have separated the teams across their encounters. Their league meeting earlier in March in Bloemfontein was also left unresolved after severe thunderstorms forced the match to end.

Coach Frans Steyn has named his team for this important encounter with only one change from the one that took down Griquas with Tiaan Swanepoel taking over the No 10 jersey from the injured Jaco van der Walt.

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg , 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Michael Annies; 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Rewan Kruger; 8 Sisonke Vumazonke, 7 Neels Volschenk (capt), 6 Gideon van der Merwe; 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner; 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Tielman Niewoudt. Replacements: 16 Juan Smal, 17 Dux Manyama, 18 John-Kelly Onkonko, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Carel Jan Coetzee, 23 Ethan Wentzel.

Airlink Pumas v Toyota Cheetahs - Friday @ Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (6pm)

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby & CSN