Champion Coaches shape up the Carling Black Label Cup line-up

South African football loving fans continue to rally behind their teams in the 2013 Carling Black Label Cup Campaign. Supporters of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have cast over 11 million votes to date.

Both teams are starting to take shape with ample time for players who are currently not in pole position to make late advancements, but it all boils down to the champion coaches’ selections.

Benni McCarthy’s retirement from football after an illustrious career means he is no longer available for Orlando Pirates. And on the Kaizer Chiefs side, the club have parted ways with veteran right-back Jimmy Tau, ruling him out of contention. The club has also announced that centre-back Morgan Gould and left-back Jimmy Jambo will not recover from their long-term injuries in time to play in the match.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates fans have so far voted Senzo Meyiwa (475 207 votes) as their goalkeeper, though not by a huge margin from Moeneeb Josephs (379 816).

Happy Jele (156 112) is in at right-back, with Thabo Matlaba (138 258) on the left. The centre-back pairing is at this stage Siyabonga Sangweni (188 354) and Lucky Lekgwathi (134 689). Rooi Mahamutsa (95 354), who returned from long-term injury towards the end of last season, is also pushing for a place.

Oupa Manyisa (139 502) and Andile Jali (136 074) currently occupy the central midfield berths, with Tlou Segolela (117 848) on the right wing and Sifiso Myeni (108 801) on the left. Daine Klate (103 269) will certainly feel like he is still in the running.

Up front the loss of the popular McCarthy means the partnership at this stage is Collins Mbesuma (170 616) and Takesure Chinyama (127 342), with Ndumiso Mabena (98 244) not too far behind.

The competition for places is equally as strong in the Kaizer Chiefs line-up.  Amakhosi’s last man of defence Itumeleng Khune is not surprisingly running away with the goalkeeper position.  Khune has so far received over 1, 3 million votes – making him the most voted player in the 2013 Carling Black Label Cup Campaign.  Giving his current, he can easily bit 2.2 million votes mark, he attained last year.

Siboniso Gaxa (229 557) is the incumbent right-back, with Tsepo Masilela (210 639) on the left. Erick Mathoho (240 827) is the clear favourite among the centre-backs, and as things stand he will be joined by Tefu Mashamaite (181 968).

Siphiwe Tshabalala (327 298) is likely to feature on the left-win, with Josta Dladla (162 309) on the right and Reneilwe Letsholonyane (299 337) and George Lebese (210 820) through the middle, though the latter and Tshabalala could switch positions.

Willard Katsande (148 770) and Siyabonga Nkosi (125 942) could yet break into that midfield though.

Bernard Parker (351 192) and Lehlohonolo Majoro (350 666) are the clear favourites to lead the line up front for AmaKhosi, with Sthembiso Ngcobo (170 030) and Kingston Nkhatha (135 242) slowly following.

If either set of Champion Coaches want to make changes to their side ahead of the 2013 Carling Black Label Cup, they can vote for other star players by dialing *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 match at FNB Stadium and, best of all, a coach’s experience with either Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs on match day.

Fans must also keep in mind that they will have an opportunity to make substitutions on match day, only this time they will vote for the player they would like to introduce from the bench rather than take off.