The Cheetahs are a melting pot of egotistical ‘head-butting’ between high-profile figures – a pitiful and hateful public spat that has threatened to boil over into legal action.
Cheetahs Rugby CEO Ross Van Reenen and retired Springbok Naka Drotské – both Currie Cup winners and respected figures in Bloemfontein – have been at loggerheads in a controversy that left the Cheetahs looking like a balkanized franchise.
Drotské has been particularly ‘vocal’ on social media, aiming at Van Reenen – asking questions about the administration and the financial status of the Cheetahs, claiming they may be “technically insolvent”.
He added that he has “learnt from Elon Musk, Rassie Erasmus and even Donald Trump” that social media is the correct platform to air his views.
Van Reenen, in response, has threatened legal action against the 53-year-old Drotské – capped 26 times by the Boks and a member of the victorious 1995 World Cup-winning team.
Springbok legend Francois Steyn, the Cheetahs’ Director of Rugby, has broken his silence on the subject and called on people to put the interest of the Cheetahs first.
Steyn, at 37 one of the youngest franchise bosses, said he is happy to chat with people who “really care about the Cheetahs” and are not in it for narcissistic reasons.
“People like Franco Smith, Jake White and Jimmy Stonehouse are people that we can call any day,” he said, adding: “Those are people who want the Cheetahs to do well.”
Steyn said he had a chat with Smith on Tuesday, before the fellow Free State Springbok flew back to Scotland to resume his duties at the United Rugby Championship-winning Glasgow Warriors.
He admitted he will also have a chat with Bulls Director of Rugby, who will travel to Bloemfontein for a Currie Cup encounter with the Cheetahs on Friday.
“Those are people from who we want to learn,” he said, adding: “We are all young and want the best for the Cheetahs.
“Along the way, we will make mistakes, but I feel we have the right people in place – who care about the franchise.”
He invited ‘all interested parties’ to come to visit him and give advice, but took a swipe at former players and coaches with a ’60 percent win record’ whose behaviour is ‘disappointing’.
“Those are people who I looked up to when I played,” Steyn said.
“That is the worst part of it,” he added, saying social media is not the place to air critical views.
“High-profile people should think about their proclamations,” Steyn said.
(WATCH as the Cheetahs’ Director of Rugby and Springbok legend Frans Steyn gives his take on the pitiful and hateful public spat between two of the franchise’s most high-profile figures….)
Steyn added that he is on a steep learning curve, since he was meant to start in the junior ranks and learn about contracting.
However, the process of his ‘promotion’ to Director of Rugby was fast-tracked.
“Since day one, if I did not know something, I was not scared to say I don’t know and go find someone who can help me,” he told @rugby365com.
“I have mentioned names [Smith, White and Stonehouse], but there are people like Rassie [Erasmus, Daan [Human] and Tony Brown,” he said about leaning on the Bok coaching staff.
“I have an open line to them, because the people who care about the Cheetahs want to help.
“It doesn’t need to be in the media.
“We are not in the URC.
“We are playing Currie Cup and four or five games in the EPCR [Challenge Cup].
“When we get to a competition, our growing pains will be over and players will be more experienced.
“We need someone who knows Bloemfontein, understands Bloemfontein and understands the people of the Free State.
“That is why we are doing what we are doing.
“All of us care deeply about the Cheetahs.
“The people that are helping us or who we can phone for advice they don’t need to go on [social media] platforms to say anything.”
@king365ed
@rugby365com
