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A new name will be etched on the Carling Knockout trophy when the champions are crowned on 6 December, with Orlando Pirates, Richards Bay FC, Marumo Gallants and Lamontville Golden Arrows all vying to scoop the cup for the first time.
Durban will host the semi-finals that will decide who will move a step closer to having their name marked on the most prized possession in South African football.
Golden Arrows will host Gallants on Sunday, 9 November, at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi. The Free State side will come into this match on a high after dismantling the 2023 champions, Stellenbosch FC, 4-0 to reach the last four. Arrows shot down TS Galaxy to reach the semi-finals.
The Buccaneers will visit Richards Bay FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 8 November, after eliminating the reigning champions Magesi FC. That victory helped the Soweto giants avenge the defeat the Limpopo side inflicted on them in the first round of last season’s tournament.
The Natal Rich Boyz are in familiar territory in the semi-finals. They will be making their third appearance in the last four, but they have never gone further than this stage as they look to make sure the third time’s the charm.
Richards Bay have been spurred by their home support that pushed them to a 4-1 demolition of Chippa United in the last 16 and brought the energy in their 3-1 come-from-behind win against Durban City.
The electric atmosphere experienced at Umhlathuze Stadium embodies the spirit of the competition, where champion fans fuel the Carling Knockout with their passion and participation, taking charge of their cup.
Champion fans brought the energy when they cast more than 360 000 predictions in the Fak’ iGoal Uzobona initiative. The campaign, whose name translates to Score a Goal and You Will See, seeks to motivate early match excitement with goals.
R90 000 is up for grabs at the start of every match for the champion fans and the team that scores. That figure decreases by R1 000 after every minute without a goal.
The last 16 and quarterfinals have seen almost R1-million raised, with clubs and champion fans equally sharing R986 000 after 363 910 predictions were cast.
The clash between Richards Bay and the Chilli Boyz produced the biggest winners after Ntlonelo Bomelo scored the fastest goal in this year’s tournament. Bomelo’s fourth-minute strike gave one lucky champion fan and the Natal Rich Boyz R86 000 each.
The champion fans have also been rewarding the best performers through the Man of the Match award, which has the biggest prize money on the continent.
Champion fans have cast more than 140 000 votes in the most democratic Man of the Match award process.
Elvis Chipezeze continued being a hit with champion fans through his exploits in goal for Magesi.
The Zimbabwean goalkeeper walked away with R400 000 last season after being named Man of the Match in all four games he was involved in.
He bagged half of that amount this season, having been named the best player in both Magesi matches before their elimination.
Chipezeze and Puso Dithejane of TS Galaxy were both named Man of the Match on two occasions.
The pair – alongside the Durban City duo of Darren Keet and Fezile Gcaba, Gallants’ Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Pirates’ Oswin Appollis, Kaizer Chiefs’ Sibongiseni Mthethwa, the Natal Rich Boyz’ Knox Mutizwa, Sundowns’ Tashreeq Matthews and Bradley Grobler of Sekhukhune United – all impressed champion fans to walk away with the Man of the Match award.
The players whose teams have been eliminated from the Carling Knockout still have one more chance to wow the champion fans. Those players are now eligible to be in the Carling All-Star team that will take on the champions at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on 13 December.
The Carling All-Star team will be led by a Consumer Coach who will go through a thorough evaluation to eventually sit on the bench in the Carling Cup.
“The semi-finals showed what champions are made of. We had some exciting, exciting fixtures – with unexpected results,” said Carling Black Label’s brand director Kerryn Greenleaf.
“We saw teams really give it their all. A special shoutout to Marumo Gallants, they know how a knockout works. It’s about the one fixture, and how you show up.
“What we are seeing is that fans are constantly engaged. They gave Elvis Chipezeze the Man of the Match award for his formidable performance against Orlando Pirates.
“He really deserved the Player of the Tournament for the 2024 edition. As we look forward to the semi-finals, we anticipate more action with both fixtures in KwaZulu-Natal.
“As we go forward, there are more opportunities for champion fans through Fak’iGoal Uzobona, Man of the Match and of course the Carling Knockout, which comes with the opportunity to be the Champion Coach.”
Champion fans have embraced the return of this element with hundreds of thousands of votes cast to select the Carling All-Star team.
Each selection of the Carling All-Star’s starting XI grants the champion fans entry to be in line to lead the side.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen has proven to be popular with the champion fans.
The goalkeeper has raked up more than 84 000 votes to lead the starting XI of the Carling All-Star, which will be made up of six Premier Division players and five from the diski sides.
Petersen is in the XI alongside teammates Thulani Mabaso, Mfundo Vilakazi and Naledi Hlongwane. Mamelodi Sundowns are represented by Marcelo Allende and Vincent Sithole.
Sekhukhune United are represented by Sikhosonke Langa. Pirates, who are still in the running for the tournament, are represented by the quartet of Jabulani Mokone, Tshepo Mhlambi, Sihle Nduli and Tshegofatso Mabasa to complete the XI.
To select their favourite players, champion fans can dial *120*660# and follow the prompts. Or they can go to the websitewww.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.