Carling Cup tickets selling like hot cakes

Tickets for the off-season Carling Black Label Cup which features Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, are selling like hot cakes.

Only 4 000 tickets are said to be still available for this derby, with only three weeks remaining ahead of the clash which had to be rescheduled to 1 August.

This was due to the involvement of Pirates in the Confederations of African Football (Caf) Confederations Cup. The Mighty Buccaneers will be travelling for a group stage encounter of this competition to face Tunisian giants, CS Sfaxien.

In last year’s encounter, more than 92 000 supporters filled the FNB Stadium, and a similar turnout is expected for this year’s game at the same venue.

The clash pits fans of both clubs against each other as they SMS their votes for their favourite starting line-up, and it will be interesting to see which player gets the most votes. For the past couple of seasons, Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune has been the favourite.

However, Khune is currently in limbo as he has failed to renew his contract with Chiefs and may miss the off-season derby. Former Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter, and star central defender, Tefu Mashamaite have also left.

Baxter has been replaced by Steve Khomphela.

“It’s exciting to see how fans are looking forward to the big day,” said South African Breweries’ Carling Black Label general manager, Vijay Govindsamy.

“This is another indication of how much the campaign is appreciated and how champion coaches [the fans] are eager to see their starting line-ups.” Supporters who keep casting their votes can win great prizes, including a share of R6-million worth of airtime, and match tickets to the showpiece event.