With just a few days to the 2021 Carling Black Label Cup game, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates fans are anticipating shibobos, tsamayas and everything South African football have to offer.
Having reached over two million votes since the Cup’s launch in May, champion fans are taking charge and using their voices to change the game.
The fan experience has further been amplified with the five game-changers, which give fans even more control over the game.
As the two teams prepare for the clash of Mzansi’s biggest derby, Itumeleng Khune and Happy Jele are leading the captain selection race for their respective teams.
Samir Nurkovic and Zakhele Lepasa are leading the penalty-taker votes with the 4-4-2 formation, dominating the votes on both sides.
Champion fans will be able to use their voices when selecting the first substitutes, which will be announced and introduced in the 55th minute of the match.
The Amakhosi and Bucs faithful may start voting for their preferred substitutes using SMS, Twitter and via USSD from 12:00 on August 1 until half-time. The final game-changer fans can vote for is the man-of-the-match, which they can select on Twitter and USSD from half-time until the final whistle.
“The selected man-of-the-match will receive R20 000, of which R10 000 will be his and the other R10 000 donated to a NPO of his choice that works towards the eradication of gender-based violence in South Africa,” said Carling Black Label brand director Arné Rust.
“As a corporate citizen, through the #NoExcuse movement, our role is to be a lighthouse for positive masculinity, motivating and rewarding men for being champions in their respective communities.
“We use platforms such as football that men engage with to communicate this message in an impactful and authentic manner.”
As with previous editions, the unique Carling Black Label Cup will see two lucky consumers over the age of 18 win the ultimate Champion Coach experience, where they will coach the Soweto Giants in the build-up and on match day, which includes participating in the pre-match briefing as well as leading from the dugout on match day.
2019 Kaizer Chiefs champion coach Tsietsi Majoro described the experience as life-changing.
He said, “I have been supporting Amakhosi for as long as I can remember, and the opportunity to be heard and physically be there to take charge of my beloved team is an experience which I can only describe as life-changing.”
His words were reiterated by Orlando Pirates 2019 champion coach Kagisho Moleme, who emphasised on the life-altering platform the experience provides.
“To be empowered with a voice and the ability to make such critical contributions to the game of football is any supporter’s dream. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which only Carling Black Label and the Soweto Giants manage to provide,” said Moleme.
