Cheetahs winger Ntokozo Makhaza: 2025 was a blessing

The winger signed with the Cheetahs in July after winning the Varsity Cup with UCT’s Ikey Tigers, before also earning his first call up to the Springboks training and alignment camp.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Makhaza says there were a lot of positive changes in his career this year, including winning the Varsity Cup.

"2025 has been nothing short of a blessing, I've achieved so much in this short space of time. At the start of the year I was playing in the Varsity Cup, so the Varsity Cup was from Feb until April and then in May, I got my first call up to the alignment camp, June was the first training camp and then in July I came up to the Cheetahs and that's when my contract with the Cheetahs started,” Makhaza said. 

“So, career wise, a dream come true because I've always had this goal or dream of being a rugby player and you know Varsity Cup is semi professional and so I just needed that breakthrough. Fortunately, the Cheetahs signed me in July."

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The Ikey Tigers reached the Varsity Cup final in 2021, were eliminated at the semifinals in 2022, and then suffered narrow final defeats in 2023 and 2024, before finally clinching the trophy this season.

Makhaza has credited the university competition for giving him a platform to be discovered by coach Rassie Erasmus and the Cheetahs.

"I played in the Varsity Cup from 2021 until 2025 and I finally got my shot because of the Varsity Cup. Varsity Cup itself put me in front of people's screens, in front of coaches, scouts and fortunately for me the right people were watching,” he explained.

“In May I got the call up to the alignment camp from Rassie and in June, the training camp. So, it was a great platform for me to showcase what I can do with the rugby ball and also a huge stepping stone leading me up to my goals. Which were one, to be a professional rugby player and then, two, to represent my country."

The Harrysmith-born player studied Psychology and Social Development at the University of Cape Town, and says it is important for him to understand how people think and how to deal with losses or triumphs through psychology.