LOCAL fans will again have the opportunity to choose their coaches when Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates meet in the sixth edition of the Carling Black Label Cup.
The local derby match, between Southern based teams Amakhosi and the Buccaneers, will take place on Saturday, July 30, at the FNB Stadium.
The match which, in many respects, marks the beginning of the new season for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams, is considered the biggest derby match in Africa.
Fans have the opportunity to select their respective players for the match, while two coaches, who also stem from the fans’ choice, will be appointed to lead their pack.
Orlando Pirates have been the holder of the Carling Black Label Cup for four of the five years and this year will prove to be a mammoth spectacle, with the two teams fighting it out for bragging rights.
The derby also stunned the soccer world when some 87 000 soccer enthusiasts attended the match in 2012.
“Since the inception of this remarkable campaign, we have been able to display Carling Black Label’s efforts of celebrating and giving a voice to ordinary fans; we have enjoyed tremendous accomplishments working with our two partners, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates,” said Carling Black Label’s general manager, Vijay Govindsamy, at the launch, which took place on Tuesday, May 3, in Johannesburg.
”For this year’s edition, we will be putting all our efforts into reconnecting with and rewarding the loyalty of the fans of the Carling Black Label Champion Cup. This will be executed across the country, through various activities leading up to the match.”
More champion coaches – the fans who will select the two teams – will be able to vote for their starting line-ups and will also stand a chance to be part of an exclusive VIP experience at the match.
This will be over and above the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for two lucky champion coaches who will go through a vigorous selection process to be awarded the opportunity of being part of the technical bench, as the Champion Coach on match day – leading their respective teams in the Soweto derby.
Fans can start purchasing tickets for the match at various outlets including Computicket and can start selecting their starting line-ups by purchasing a Black Label beer, signing in online with their cellphone number and by entering the underliner code.
