17 OCTOBER 2016 MEC LEETO CONGRATULATES FREE STATE CHEETAHS The Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mrs. N.S. Leeto would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Toyota Free State Cheetahs for going through to the Nashua Currie Cup Final following their 55-17 victory over the Golden Lions who were the defending champions. From the start, the home team played with much greater conviction and purpose, with the pack of forwards especially dominating the collisions, even though the Lions were on top in the scrums. MEC Leeto is further elated that the Free State Cheetahs have also secured to play the final at their home stadium for the first time since 2007. The Free State Cheetahs have won all 8 of the round robin matches and have earned a 4 try bonus point in 7 of the 8 round robin matches – the only match where they did not score 4 tries or more was against the Western Province in Cape Town. Due to the team’s performance, the team as a collective is one of the nominees for team of the year and individual players like Ox Nche and Nico Lee are also nominated as players of the tournament. Free State Cheetahs will play against the Blue Bulls for the Nashua Currie Cup Final as follows: DATE: 22 October 2016 (Saturday) VENUE: TOYOTA Stadium, Bloemfontein TIME: 16:00 The last time these two teams met in a final in Bloemfontein was in 2006, where they shared the title after scores were level after extra time. The Currie Cup Final is expected to be a fierce battle between these two sides hence the last time they met in a final was in Pretoria back in 2009, where the Blue Bulls were victorious over the Free State Cheetahs. Private Bag X20606, Bloemfontein, 9300 Business Partners Building, Cnr Henry and East Burger Streets, Bloemfontein Tel: (051) 410 4735 Fax: (051) 410 4786 Email: [email protected] Congratulating the Free State Cheetahs MEC Leeto said, “The Department is responsible for the conditioning of the team at the FSSSI and our support for the Free State Cheetahs as a department continues to yield positive results. The Department also supports the team financially each year. We urge all our people to show their unwavering support for the Free State Cheetahs in the upcoming final. We are confident that the Nashua Currie Cup will find a new home here in the Free State on Saturday.” Issued by: Mr. Tankiso Zola Director: Communication and IT Cell: 082 940 2392 Tel: 051 – 4104742/4786/4735 Email: [email protected] Follow us by pressing ctrl – click on the link below: Facebook/Free State Twitter/fssacr Website/www.fssacr.gov.za Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Private Bag X20606, Bloemfontein, 9300 Business Partners Building, Cnr Henry and East Burger Streets, Bloemfontein Tel: (051) 410 4735 Fax: (051) 410 4786 Email: [email protected].