Toyota Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete says his team is fired up for Amsterdam. The team in orange will travel to the country widely associated with the colour orange and set up their home base in Amsterdam in the EPCR Challenge Cup competition.
While in Europe, they will face Oyonnax, Section Paloise and Zebre Parma in Pool One. Sekekete says it’s welcome news that their first game on Sunday, against Section Paloise, is already sold out.
“We’re starting the new year off in a proper way, by going to the Netherlands. Seeing these things on social media and how are fans are reacting to us coming over are creating a real hype within the team. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd will definitely create an amazing atmosphere. We look forward to it and will make the most of it,” he said.
Sekekete says they are expecting a tough match as the team from France will want to prove a point against the Cheetahs, who knocked them out of the competition last year.
“Their egos will be bruised because of last year and we expect them to come out guns blazing, but that’s healthy. That’s the competition we want. We want it to be tough and we want to give them a good game. We are definitely expecting a good game from them and also a tough and physical one,” he said.
For Cheetah prop, Hencus van Wyk, it will be a bittersweet trip as he will be leaving the baby girl he welcomed with his wife on New Year’s Day.
“It will be tough – not on the body but on the mind,” Van Wyk said. “I’m definitely going to miss my little girl and she will definitely be on my mind. But yes, fortunately, my mother-in-law will stay with my wife and help look after the baby.”
Sunday’s match will take place at the NRCA Stadium and kick-off is at 3 PM.
