Champion Coaches overwhelming response to the campaign

The 2013 Carling Black Label Cup has continued to break records as it cements its status as one of the most premium and eagerly anticipated matches on the South African football calendar.

Kaizer Chiefs defeated Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the clash of the Soweto giants in front of a capacity crowd at FNB Stadium, with the lone goal from Lehlohonolo Majoro handing them their first Carling Black Label Cup victory.

The starting XI of each team  for the match was chosen over a period of months by supporters of the two clubs, who cast a combined total of  22.2-million, a new record for number of votes cast in the three-year history of the campaign.

Both coaches; Stuart Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs and Roger de Sa from Orlando Pirates, applauded the selection of their fans, suggesting their own selections would have been very close to the starting line-ups selected by the fans. This speaks volumes about the knowledge and skill of the Champion Coaches around the country, who have an increased understanding of what it takes to get the best out of their side.

For this year’s substitution, the fans were afforded an opportunity to vote for the player they would like to introduce onto the field of play, as opposed to off.  Knowledge Musona getting the nod from AmaKhosi supporters and Daine Klate selected by Buccaneers fans.

It was a special day out for the two Consumer Coaches, chosen out of the millions that voted during the campaign. They had a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend match day with their beloved teams, including spending time with the teams as they went through their pre-match preparations, team meetings and sitting on the bench during the game.

Life-long AmaKhosi fan Teboho Letube, 24, from Orlando West spent the day with Chiefs, while Khotso Mfati, 31, from Pretoria was the Consumer Coach for Pirates.

Tickets for the showpiece fixture at the country’s national stadium were sold out three weeks prior to the game and flew into the hands of fans in a matter of just days, indicative of the increased popularity of the Carling Black Label Cup

as one of the great spectacles in South African football.

“We have been amazed about how South African football fans have taken the Carling Black Label Cup to heart over the past three years and this year was our greatest engagement yet,” said Vijay Govindsamy, General Manager Carling Black Label.

“Supporters have shown all over the country the seriousness with which they take their role as Champion Coaches and we have been delighted to once again be able to give them the opportunity to live out their dreams. The match itself was another great spectacle for South African football and we would like to extend our appreciation to the teams, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, for their participation once again this year,” he continued.

“We look forward with great anticipation to the 2014 Carling Black Label Cup when we will add another chapter to the history of this special fixture in the South African football calendar." Govindsamy concluded.