It has and will always remain our primary goal as human beings to grow and allow growth to take place, even if the conditions and resources are not always favourable.

At the Toyota Free State Cheetahs we thrive on being the breading ground of opportunity but we have added and new dimension to it of late and that is to move from good to great on all dimensions of the game, even more so in the development of the current and new players and human beings.

This was the message from the coaches and management to the junior players who attended the Toyota Free State Cheetahs Academy welcoming function.

The Director of Rugby at the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, Rory Duncan shared the core values in terms of the philosophies the hold dear at the Toyota Free State Cheetahs to make sure the new players and parents were on same page as to where the company is going and also how they will play their part in the realisation of that.

Vodacom Super Rugby and Currie Cup head coach, Franco Smith also shared fundamental values and expectations with the boys and parents making sure that they desire it with utmost depth to continue the legacy of the Cheetahs ensuring they understand the value off the jersey with the Free State badge at the front.

It was Coach Izak van der Westhuizen, head of the academy who laid out the plan for the year 2017 and also shared goals as to where the academy will and should be in a few years.
For everyone involved with the academy it is important that we install lifelong goals and values in each other and open up avenue's outside rugby daily through studying, working , doing community based projects all which we aim to do this year and in future at the Toyota Free State Cheetah.

Melusi Mthethwa, the Head Coach of the under 19 Free State Cheetahs team, as enthusiastic as always, gave an inspirational talk about how we need to work in unity and together set and achieve goals, both and off the field.

The function was a huge success. The parents and young players have started the year on a high and we trust that we will work together in that synchronised fashion this year and for many more to come.