The legend of rugby in Bloemfontein, Charl Strydom, has bid a big farewell to the Toyota Cheetahs after 20 years of service as an assistant coach in various capacities. The Free State team has made changes to their coaching staff as they plot the way forward, and for Strydom, it has marked the end of an era. It is rare for a coach in professional sport to remain with one team for more than four to six years, and 20 years certainly takes commitment to the next level.
Strydom joined the Cheetahs in 2005 as an analyst, and then as the defence coach, while even taking charge as head coach for a game or two. Over the past two decades, he has worked under numerous head coaches, including Rassie Erasmus, Naka Drotské, Franco Smith, Rory Duncan, Hawies Fourie, and most recently, Izak van der Westhuizen.
During this time, Strydom achieved something only the physiotherapist, his good friend and touring roommate, JP “Pikkie” du Toit, has done – collecting no fewer than six Currie Cup winners’ medals. Before 2005, the Free State had only won the coveted Currie Cup once, in 1976. Since Strydom and Du Toit joined the Cheetahs, they secured victories in 2005, 2006 (shared with the Blue Bulls), 2007, 2016, 2019, and most recently, 2023.
Over the past 20 years, the Cheetahs have experienced many highs and lows. The lows included being booted from Super Rugby and later from the PRO14 (now the United Rugby Championship). The highs, however, were plentiful: six Currie Cup titles, participation in the PRO14, the EPCR Challenge Cup, and reaching the Super Rugby playoffs in 2013. Strydom was part of it all.
Reflecting on his time with the Cheetahs, Strydom told the Bloemfontein Courant that the first-ever overseas win in Super Rugby was a standout moment, along with many off-field memories.
“The first couple of wins in that Super Rugby era, when the Cheetahs had never won a game overseas, were special. Getting the first one against the Waratahs, and then following that with a few wins against the Waratahs and the Western Force, was a big moment. It was nice to get that monkey off our back.”
He continued: “A lowlight was the 2013 season – the first time we ever made the playoffs in Super Rugby. Missing a kick right at the death to go into extra time for a chance to reach the semi-finals was tough.
“You look at the players we had back then – a lot of them are now Springboks. Those were good times. All those tours we went on were memorable. I even got to play at some great golf courses, like Jack’s Point in Queenstown, New Zealand – not many people can say they’ve done that.
“I also think, as I’ve said before, the Cheetahs have always been the underdogs in every competition we’ve played. People don’t always believe it, but it’s true. We’ve worked with the smallest budget of all the unions, and the bigger teams often take your best players. Yet the following year, you find a way to come back and win games against tough teams. That resilience has been a hallmark of the Cheetahs – Free State people never give up. They’re used to hardships, and that spirit has always been reflected in the team.”
As Strydom bids farewell to the Cheetahs, the team embarks on a new chapter. However, he has undoubtedly left an indelible mark and proven himself a true legend of the game in the Free State. – MORGAN PIEK
