Champion Coaches Positive Response To The 2013 Carling Black Label Cup

South Africa’s aspiring  ‘Champion Coaches’ have responded in massive numbers to the 2013 Carling Black Label Cup, casting almost 5-million votes just two weeks after the launch of the campaign.

The Carling Cup Black label Cup is in its third edition and the growth of fan participation in the past years has proven how this popular pre-season tournament captured the imagination of many football fanatics. Over 21-million votes were cast in 2012; and the aim for 2013 is to beat that benchmark. . So far 4,9 million votes have been cast, showing once more how South African football fans have taken the Carling Black Label Cup to heart. They have made the encounter, which will take place at FNB Stadium on 27 July 2013, one of the biggest features of the South African football calendar.

What continues to inspire so many fans to respond in their numbers is that Carling black label understood that men are passionate about soccer, more so that most believe in their sporting expertise. In the Carling Black Label Cup initiative, fans are given the opportunity “To Be Champion Coaches” and vote for the players they would like to see on the staring XI from these two sides.

This year’s format will be same as in the two previous seasons, except for one substantial change on the substitution mechanic. Based on the performance of the teams and players during the first 45 minutes of the match, fans will be asked to make a substitution they believe will influence the game – only this time, fans will now vote for a player they would like to bring onto the field, rather than who they want to take off.

In order to select their starting XI, fans have to purchase a Carling Black Label beer and dial *120*764*.  They must then enter their unique code found on the underside of the bottle cap and the # sign (with no spaces in between), and can then choose the team they would like to manage, and the players they would like to see start. The voting is free of charge to the public.

Those supporters who cast their votes can win great prizes, including a share of R3-million worth of airtime, match tickets to the showpiece event and, best of all, a coach’s experience with either Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs on match day.

One of the unique features of the Carling Black Label Cup is the fantastic prize that will allow two lucky fans to experience their team in training, sit in the pre-match briefing and be part of the dug-out with their favourite team. This is a once in a life-time experience for adult consumers.  Fans will need to log onto our website (www.carlingblacklabel.co.za) and go to the Forum to participate and stand a chance to be selected as a Champion Coach. On the Forum, 8 weekly winners from each team, 16 in total, will be invited to the Champion Coach Finals event on the 20th of July.

Two other consumers, one from each team, will be selected from the in trade promotion and will also take part in the finals event. At the finals event the 18 participants will go through 6 tasks and be judged by a panel to choose the final 2 coaches who join their respective teams for a few days in the build-up to the event day and sit in the dugout for the match and make the team substitutions.

All supporters who cast their vote for the players they would like to see compete in the 2013 Carling Black Label Cup will be automatically entered into this competition.