Johannesburg: The opening matches of the Carling Knockout will be an electric affair, producing winners on and off the field as the 16 premier division clubs fight for the country’s league cup.
The champion fans will be a part of that journey in every step of the way.
The second edition of the Carling Knockout – brought to you by the Premier Soccer League and Champion beer, Carling Black Label, – will kick off on 18 October and culminate on 21 December with the Carling Black Label Cup.
Carling Black Label continues to give the beautiful game’s 12th player, the champion fans, the power to drive the Carling Knockout.
The champion fans will select the Man of the Match not only in the eight matches of the last 16, but throughout the competition.
The selected player will pocket R100 000, the biggest purse for this award in world football. As soon as a match kicks off, fans can vote for free by dialling *120*660# and following the on-screen prompts.
AmaZulu FC will kick off the last 16 action at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday 18 October against defending champions, Stellenbosch FC, at 19:00.
The return to Durban will be an emotional one for the Cape Winelands’ club, as they booked their place in the final last year at the same venue in Umlazi before winning the tournament at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Mzansi’s cup kings, Orlando Pirates, will start the journey of trying to get their hands on the only domestic cup competition trophy that eluded them last season against Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium on Saturday 19 October at 15:00.
At the same time, Marumo Gallants, who are now based in Bloemfontein, will return to their old stomping ground to battle with Polokwane City at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium at 15:00. At 18:00 hours in the country’s capital, Mamelodi Sundowns will entertain Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. Abafana Bes’thende will be a familiar foe for the Brazilians’ technical team. Coach Manqoba Mngqithi began his career there, while senior coach Steve Komphela joined Sundowns from Arrows in July.
Romain Folz, who is the Tshwane giants’ assistant coach, saw the Durban side up close during his time with the other outfit from the Zulu Kingdom – AmaZulu
At 20:00, Cape Town City will host Royal AM at Athlone Stadium in what will be a repeat of their opening league match.
Also, at 20:00 the new Peter Mokaba Stadium will host one of the much-anticipated clashes in the last 16 when SuperSport United hosts Kaizer Chiefs.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori and Amakhosi are among the quarter that is the most successful in the history of South African football. But in recent years, they have struggled to win a trophy – and they will be hoping that their meeting is the first step towards ending that cup drought. Finally, on Sunday at 15:00, TS Galaxy will play host to Chippa United at Mbombela Stadium.
The last 16 battle will end where it started, at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday at 17:30 when Richards Bay takes on Sekhukhune United.
Tickets are already available at Ticketpro and various outlets nationwide.
It’s not just the eight clubs that will progress to the quarterfinals that will win in the Carling Knockout. Champion fans are also in line to win thousands of rands in the tournament through the Fak’iGoal Uzobona campaign.
The initiative, which translates to Score a Goal and See, is Carling Black Label’s programme to reward champion fans for their involvement in the game while also pushing clubs to score plenty of goals so that – as the tournament’s slogan says – they Fak’uGesi, which means bring the energy.
The Fak’iGoal Uzobona initiative is simple: Champion fans must correctly predict when the opening goal will be scored as well as which team.
The match starts with R90 000 on the clock, and for each passing minute of the 90 that will be played – R1 000 is removed from the prize. The amount that remains when the opening goal is scored will be won by the champion fan who correctly predicted it.
Carling Black Label will match that amount and give it to the team that scores first. Last season, Champion Beer gave out almost R1-million through the Fak’iGoal Uzobona initiative.
To stay up to date with any further announcements, champion fans should check the official brand website and social media pages:
Website: www.carlingblacklabelcup.co.za
USSD: *120*660# (USSD 20c/20s) Ts&Cs apply.
Twitter: @blacklabelsa
Facebook: @Carling Black Label
Instagram: @carlingblacklabel
Official Hashtag: #CarlingKnockout
INFO SUPPLIED.
