As the Toyota Cheetahs gear up to face the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday in their must-win Currie Cup final-round clash, the team has received some welcome news.
Backline stars Prince Nkabinde and Marco Jansen van Vuren have both extended their contracts with the Cheetahs. Nkabinde, despite a few injury setbacks, has proven himself a standout winger whenever he’s on the field. Meanwhile, Jansen van Vuren, a former SA Schools rugby player, has been a reliable and consistent performer since joining the team from the Bulls.
Nkabinde told Bloemfontein Courant that extending his stay in Bloemfontein for another two years was a no-brainer.
“I’ve been here for a year and three months, to be precise. For me, it’s an honour to be part of this team,” said the all-time leading try-scorer in Varsity Cup rugby.
“The coaches have welcomed me so well, and Bloemfontein has been amazing. I’ve settled in nicely and really enjoyed playing for the Cheetahs this past year. It’s an honour, and I’m excited to stay for the next two years.”
Jansen van Vuren, who hails from Vanderbijlpark, echoed the sentiment, saying that while he’s played at a high level in Pretoria, he and his family are very happy in Bloemfontein.
“I grew up in a smaller town like Bloemfontein, so this is awesome. My daughter sees the same buck and so on every morning, so for us it’s lekker, and we’re really happy here as a family,” he said.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Jansen van Vuren is particularly fired up to face his former team.
“For us as a squad, it’s fantastic to test ourselves against them. I’ve been excited about this match since Sunday, and I think everyone feels the same. It’s about going out there and expressing ourselves,” he said.
Nkabinde agreed, adding that this fixture feels very personal.
“Exactly – like Marco said, it’s a great opportunity to measure ourselves. We want to compete at an international level, so we need to lift our game against the Bulls this weekend. We’re looking forward to it and can’t wait.”
Saturday’s do-or-die clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria kicks off at 19:05. – MORGAN PIEK
