Former Springbok loose forward Oupa Mohoje has been appointed as the head of the Toyota Cheetahs Academy, as he begins the next chapter in his rugby journey.
In his new role, Mohoje will oversee the development of future Cheetahs stars through the academy, which is currently undergoing a revamp and is being fitted with custom gym equipment. The academy has already produced notable Springboks such as Marnus van der Merwe and Boan Venter, who both made their Test debuts against Georgia in Nelspruit – and each marked the occasion with a try.
The 34-year-old Mohoje, who played over 100 games for the Cheetahs and earned 19 caps for the Springboks, told Bloemfontein Courant that he’s ready to give back to the game that gave him so much.
“I’ve gained quite a bit of knowledge over the past 12 years of playing professional rugby,” said the former Free State and Shimlas captain. “I’m really looking forward to sharing that with the younger players, showing them what it takes to become professionals, and teaching them a bit about determination and commitment.
“I’ve been at it for a few weeks now and, to be honest, it’s not as easy as coaches make it look – but we’re adjusting well.”
The Free State has long been known as one of South Africa’s top breeding grounds for rugby talent, and Mohoje believes there’s still plenty of potential waiting to be unlocked. He stressed the importance of nurturing this pipeline and shaping it the right way.
“It’s extremely important for us to identify and support young talent. There are so many good rugby schools in the Free State, but it’s tough for a limited number of coaches to cover all of them,” he said.
“Luckily, school tournaments help to make the scouting process a bit easier. But we also can’t ignore the fact that some of the bigger unions come here to scout players. So, our goal is to make the Cheetahs Academy the destination of choice – a place where young players want to come to develop and grow.
“We also want to earn the trust of parents by showing them that their kids are in good hands. I believe that displaying a high standard of coaching is key. That’s our main focus right now.”
In addition to his new coaching role, Mohoje has also been carving out a career in rugby commentary and is becoming a familiar voice on televised matches. – MORGAN PIEK
