The
2012 Carling Black Label Cup addedanother chapter to South African football
history, breaking records and providing unforgettable memories for Champions
Coaches across South Africa.
Orlando
Pirates retained the title they won in the inaugural event in 2011, defeating
Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs 5-4 on penalties after the teams had played to a
thrilling 1-1 draw. The match was played in front of a record crowd of 92 702
at Soccer City, a great testament to the passion and popularity of South
African football.
The
spectacle provided a superb start to the 2012/13 Premier Soccer League season,
with the involvement of the fans at record levels as they demonstratedtheir
eagerness to ‘Be the Champion Coach’.
Over
20-million votes were cast for the starting line-ups of both teams; double that
of 2011.The match itself was exhilarating as Kaizer Chiefs took an early lead
with Abia Nale handed a rare start for the Amakhosi, as a result of Carling
Black Label consumer involvement in the game.
It
looked as though the Naturena side would hold on to their advantage until
BenniMcCarthy sent the game into a penalty shoot-out deep into injury time.
It
was the Buccaneers who held their nerve to outlast Kaizer Chiefs 5-4, with
Ndumiso Mabena netting the vital kick.
Although
the day was really about the consumer coaches and their selections, Stuart
Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs and Augusto Palacios from Orlando Pirates said they
were impressed with the choices made and delighted with how the match had gone.
“When
we returned for pre-season, I told my players to forget about winning the
treble and that we needed to start afresh and focus on the next trophy.
“We
want to win everything and this is the perfect start. We had a strong team out
there that was chosen by our fans, and players like Sifiso Myeni and Mark
Mayambela had a chance to show that they deserve to wear the Pirates shirt.
“For
us it was very good preparation for the new season and for the fans it was a
very good day out that I believe they enjoyed,” Palacios said.
His
oppositionnumber at Chiefs, Baxter, was also pleased that some of the players
who did not get to see regular action last season got a run-out in such a
prestigious match.
“I
think there was a lot of pride between the two teams. I was pleased to see
that.. If you look at the starting XI, there were a couple of choices made by
the supporters who had an opportunity to showcase their talent. Abia Nale did
well, especially offensively. Tefu Mashamaite settled in well. They obviously
staked a claim for a more regular starting position and in a sense raised their
shares, if I can put it that way, Baxter said.”
One
interesting aspect of the evening was the decision of the consumer coaches to
replace both goalkeepers just past the 50-minute mark.This substitution was
audited by Grant Thornton.
Fans
had spent the first half of the game voting for who they would like removed
from the game and decided that Itumeleng Khune of Kaizer Chiefs and Moneeeb
Josephs of Orlando Pirates would come off.
It
was a smart move in that both players are virtually guaranteed a starting
position in the new season and the supporters are well aware of their
attributes. It made more sense for the fans to leave the outfield players on the
pitch to give them more game-time ahead of the new campaign.
It
was also a wonderful night out for Kaizer Chiefs fan Wilson Mbatha and Orlando
Pirates supporter Lazarus Moeng, who got to sit in the respective dug-outs of
their team.
These
two lucky supporters had spent time with the teams in the build-up to the
match. Once the action was underway, they were active in sending out messages
from the bench, adding to the consumer involvement in the game.
“The
2012 Carling Black Label Cup was a stunning success, both on and off the field,
and has laid a platform for even greater things next year. “Records galore,
glitz and glamour on the night, it was a Champion experience from all involved
with the Champion beer and the Carling Black Label Cup,” Andrea Quaye, General
Manager of Carling Black Label said.
The
culmination of the campaign will be the Coach the Coaches workshop conducted by
the former Bafana Bafana tactician, Pitso Mosimane scheduled for the first week
of September in Johannesburg. Further
details will be provided in due course.
