Naka Drotske announces his retirement from rugby

Posted on Friday, May 08, 2015

After eight years as head coach of the Toyota Cheetahs, Naka Drotske has announced his retirement from rugby. Naka will step down as coach after the current Super Rugby competition.

Drotske will be remembered as one of the biggest legends of Free State- and Cheetah Rugby in the 120 year existence of the union. He served Free State Rugby as a player, coach and administrator in a period of just over two decades.

Drotske managed to achieve a unique performance by winning the Currie Cup as a player and captain, as team manager and coach during the period from 2005 to 2007. Drotske was also part of the Springbok squad who won the World Cup in 1995 in Ellis Park. As coach in 2013 he lead the Toyota Cheetahs to the play-offs of both the Currie Cup and Super Rugby competitions – a first for the Toyota Cheetahs.

Naka coached the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in 90 Currie Cup and 114 Super Rugby games to date. A total of 14 Players became Springboks under Coach Naka Drotske.

The Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd, Mr. Harold Verster is full of praise for Naka. “Naka and I had a long and pleasant road. I know him since his schoolboy 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 Toyota Cheetahs.”

“Naka played a very big and expert (kundige) role in player contracting. With a limited budget he managed to recruit top players and Springboks.”

Free State Rugby honours Naka Drotske for his enormous contribution to Free State- and Cheetah Rugby en wishes him all of the best for the future. The name ‘Naka Drotske’ will live as a legend in the history of Free Sate- and Cheetah Rugby.

Naka Drotske lê die tuig neer

Na agt jaar aan die stuur van die Toyota Cheetahs as hoofafrigter het Naka Drotske sy uittrede aangekondig. Naka sal die tuig as breier neerlê na afloop van die huidige SupeRugby Kompetisie.

Drotske kan sekerlik as een van die heel grootste legendes bestempel word wat Vrystaat en die Cheetahs Rugby opgelewer het, oor die unie se bestaan van 120 jaar. Drotske het oor ‘n periode van meer as twee dekades Vrystaat Rugby en die Cheetahs gedien as speler, afrigter en administrateur.

Drotske het die unieke prestasie behaal om die Curriebeker as speler en kaptein, as spanbestuurder en as afrigter te verower in die periode van 2005 tot 2007. Drotske verower ook as speler in 1995 die Wêreldbeker saam met die Springbokke op Ellis Park en in 2013 lei Drotske die Toyota Cheetahs na beide die uitspeel rondtes in die Super Rugby en Curriebeker kompetisies - ? eerste vir die Toyota Cheetahs.

Naka het in sy tyd as afrigter nie minder as 14 Springbokke opgelewer en die Toyota Cheetahs in 90 Curriebeker- en tot op hede in 114 SupeRugby wedstryde gebrei.

Die Besturende Direkteur van die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs Mnr Harold Verster is vol lof vir Naka: “Ek en Naka het ? lang en aangename pad saam geloop. Ek ken hom sedert hy as skoolseun reeds top rugby gespeel het. Hy is ? sterk leier en ? kundige man. Ek wens hom en sy familie net die mooiste toe vir die toekoms en sien uit na sy verdere ondersteuning van die Toyota Cheetahs”.

“Naka het ‘n baie groot en kundige rol in verband met spelerkontraktering gespeel. Hy het met ‘n beperkte begroting daarin geslaag om top spelers te werf en Springbokke op te lewer.”

Vrystaat Rugby eer Naka Drotske vir sy enorme bydrae tot Vrystaat- en Cheetahs Rugby en wens hom alles van die beste toe vir wat sy toekoms mag inhou. Die naam Naka Drotske sal altyd as ? legende voortleef in die geskiedenis van Vrystaat- en Cheetah Rugby.