The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) pair of Richards Bay FC and AmaZulu FC will have extra motivation in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout that will be played on the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of December.
The aforementioned teams could play in a home final should the ‘Natal Rich Boyz’ get past Stellenbosch FC and if Usuthu gets the better of TS Galaxy FC in the semi-finals.
The Premier Soccer League, in partnership with Carling Black Label, announced after the semi-finals draw, that the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the inaugural Carling Knockout final on 16 December 2023.
The two KZN sides have already played at the majestic arena in Durban, Richards Bay FC and AmaZulu FC were part of Carling Black Label’s innovative approach to football, when they played in a thrilling double-header at the venue in the quarterfinals.
Richards Bay FC beat Orlando Pirates FC in a dramatic penalty shootout to advance to the last four, with goalkeeper Philasande Manqele put on a solid display-keeping a clean sheet after two hours of football. Usuthu defeated Durban neighbours, Lamontville Golden Arrows FC , with an emphatic 3-0 win thanks to a hat-trick by the man of the match recipient, Junior Dion.
Dion’s first goal was the second fastest in the quarter-finals. His strike after 11 minutes meant that Usuthu and one lucky fan pocketed R79 000 through the Fak’ iGoal Uzobona campaign innovation. Loosely translated as ‘Score a Goal and See’, this innovation aims to push for early goals whilst rewarding the clubs and champion fans with cash prizes, perfectly in-line with the campaign mantra of Fak’ uGesi – loosely translated ‘bring the energy’.
To take part in the Fak’ iGoal Uzobona innovation, fans simply have to predict the minute the first goal will be scored in a match and by which team. The prize starts at R90 000 when the game kicks off, and then decreases by R1 000 with each passing minute without a goal scored. One lucky champion fan that predicted the correct team and time of the first scored goal will win a cash prize based on how early the goal is scored.
The fastest goal of the quarter-finals was scored by Stellenbosch’s Iqraam Rayners, just eight minutes into Stellies’ 2-0 win over Polokwane City FC. Rayners’ goal gave Stellenboch a whopping R82 000, also putting one lucky fan in a position to win that amount.
Rayners’ good day did not end there. The Stellenboch striker was one of four Man of the Match winners in the round who walked away with R100 000 after being given this award by the supporters who voted for the player. Rayners, Pirates’ Thembinkosi Lorch, Dion of AmaZulu and Sekhukhune’s Jamie Webber were voted Man of the Match winners and walked away with the R100 000 prize each.
The youngest club, TS Galaxy, in the tournament has been on an incredible run that started by eliminating Mamelodi Sundowns in the last 16 round, followed by claiming the scalp of Sekhukhune in penalties.
This is not the end of the road for the players whose teams have been eliminated in the Carling Knockout tournament. They can still take to the pitch if the champion fans vote them into the starting XI of the Carling All-Star team- that will take on the winners of the Carling Knockout on 6 January 2024 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The champion fans have embraced this element of the tournament, particularly the chance to see players from rival teams playing together. Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi players dominate the starting XI so far.
The starting XI of the Carling All-Stars will feature six players from the premiership clubs that have been knocked out and five from the Diski Challenge. The Carling Knockout and Carling Cup is not only about giving a voice to our champion fans, rewarding fans and players for their contributions, but also giving young players a platform to shine. This also allows starlets a great opportunity to gain valuable experience from veterans, including those who play for other teams.
Voting for the Carling All-Stars team is open and runs until 21 December. Champion fans can vote for their favorite players by simply purchasing a promo 750ml or 500ml Carling Black Label. They then have to dial *120*660# and follow the on-screen prompts. Fans can also vote on the website; www.carlingblacklabelcup.co.za Ts&Cs apply, USSD 20c/20s.
To stay up to date with any further announcements, fans should check the official brand website and social media pages:
Website: www.carlingblacklabelcup.co.za
Twitter: @blacklabelsa
Facebook: Carling Black Label
Instagram: @carlingblacklabel
Official Hashtag: #CarlingKnockout #CarlingCup
INFO SUPPLIED.
