Drotske walks off into the sunset

Long-standing Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has decided to retire from the sport.

After eight years as head coach of the Cheetahs, Drotské announced on Friday that he will step down after the current Super Rugby competition.

In a statement the franchise said Drotské will be remembered as "one of the biggest legends" of Free State and the Cheetah in the 120-year existence of the union.

He served Free State as a player, coach and administrator in a period of just over two decades.

Drotské managed to achieve a unique achievement of winning the Currie Cup as a player and captain, as team manager and coach during the period from 2005 to 2007.

He was also part of the Springbok squad that won the World Cup in 1995 in Ellis Park.

As coach in 2013 he lead the Cheetahs to the play-offs of both the Currie Cup and Super Rugby competitions – a first for the Cheetahs.

Drotské coached the Free State Cheetahs in 90 Currie Cup and 114 Super Rugby games to date.

Fourteen Players became Springboks under Drotské.

The Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd, Harold Verster, was full of praise for Drotské.

"Naka and I had a long and pleasant road," Verster said.

"I know him since his school days, where he played top rugby. He is a strong leader and a wise man. I wish him and his family only the best for the road ahead and look forward to his support of the Cheetahs.

"Naka played a very big and expert role in player contracting. With a limited budget he managed to recruit top players and Springboks."

* Meanwhile Free State confirmed earlier reports that Varsity Cup-winning mentor Franco Smith be the head coach of both the Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) and Cheetahs (Super Rugby) teams.

His operations for the 2016 Super Rugby tournament will start on November 1.

He is appointed on a four-year term.

He will also be a member of Free State Rugby's Coaching and Rugby Committees and will have the privilege to appoint his assistant coaches and team management for the different competitions.

Smith is already an experienced coach and was part of the Cheetahs coaching and management team that won the Currie Cup in 2005 and 2006.

He has experience as a coach in Europe with Treviso in Italy, where he coached the team to three consecutive Italian championship victories and qualifying and participating in the top-flight European Cup competition.

Smith also proven himself through coaching the Shimlas to their first ever Varsity Cup championship in 2015.

Smith is a son of the Free State, who made his mark as a player when he represented South Africa in 18 matches and nine Test matches.

He further represented the Free State, Griquas, Blue Bulls and Pumas in the Currie Cup and also the Bulls at Super Rugby level.

"We wish Franco Smith the best of luck with his new role and look forward to a new era at the Cheetah with Franco and his coaching team for the next four years," Verster said.

Support staff

Corniel van Zyl has been earmarked to take the position as forwards coach for the Cheetahs.

Van Zyl is no stranger to Free State.  

He was part of the Cheetah team that won the Currie Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Van Zyl continued his career at Treviso and represented Italy in the 2011 World Cup and played in seven Tests for Italy.

He is currently a player/coach with the Italian club, Treviso.

He will be relocating to Bloemfontein in the next two months.

The rest of the support staff that did duty in 2014 Currie Cup campaign will stay intact.