CHAMPION COACHES - Lazarus Moeng and Qinile Mbatha

Kaizer Chiefs fan Wilson Mbatha and Orlando Pirates supporter Lazarus Moeng have been named as the 2012 Carling Black Label Cup Consumer Coaches after they came out top in a nationwide competition to select the most knowledgeable and passionate fans of the Soweto giants. These two consumer coaches are set to lead their teams to victory on Saturday, 28 July 2012 at Soccer City, Johannesburg.

Mbatha and Moeng were amongst 1,09-million South Africans who cast their votes for the starting line-ups of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates ahead of the prestigious Soweto Derby.

The pair’s prize will see them join their favourite team for training ahead of the game, sit in the pre-match briefing and take in the action from the dug-out of their respective sides.

The duo made a short-list of consumers who were put through a number of rigorous tests at the SAB World of Beer, Johannesburg to see if they have what it takes to be the 2012 Consumer Coaches.

This included a quiz on their beloved clubs, a taste challenge to see if they could identify the Champion beer, Carling Black Label, and one-on-one interviews with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates representatives.

Mbatha and Moeng emerged from this process victorious and have gained an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the tension of a Soweto Derby from within the two camps.

“I am delighted with this opportunity, I cannot wait to interact with my players,” says Mbatha, who hails from Thokoza. “It’s a pity that Siphiwe Tshabalala will not be able to play because of his injury, but we have a lot of great players in our squad and I know that we will win on the day.

“I cannot wait to share this experience with my entire community and it is a great honour for me to attend this event as part of the Kaizer Chiefs team.”

Pirates fan Moeng, a father of two from Brakpan, says the 2012 Carling Black Label Cup will be a culmination of a dream for him.

“I am over the moon! We will definitely defend our trophy as champions and I look forward to being part of that,” he says. “I have received great support from my community as the people feel that I am representing their aspirations. I am doing this not just for myself, but for them as well, to show what is possible.”

Orlando Pirates won the inaugural Carling Black Label Cup in 2011 when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 4-3 on penalties after the teams had played to a 0-0 draw.

The second year of the Carling Black Label Cup has seen a massive increase in the number of fans who have cast their vote for the starting line-ups of the Soweto giants, with over20-million entries received, up from 11-million the previous year.

The Consumer Coaches and everybody watching the game still have a big role to play though as the supporters will decide which players are substituted first on either side by voting during the first half of the game.

They can do this by dialing the toll free number *130*376# and selecting the team they wish to choose a player to substitute from (two entries per supporter).They will then be asked to choose the position of the player – Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder or Striker – and then the actual person they wish to remove from the game.

The first substitution for each team will be made at the 50-minute mark, with the players to come in and out of the game to be decided by the regular coaches after that – Augusto Palacios for Orlando Pirates and Stuart Baxter for Kaizer Chiefs.