“This is a unique initiative for fans to get the opportunity to select their own starting line-up,” comments Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala about the return of the Carling Black Label Cup spectacle. The launch for the 2016 edition was held at Johannesburg’s Park Station on Tuesday afternoon.

Special is the cup’s innovative approach to the Soweto Derby, engaging with the supporters who choose the starting line-up. There is even a chance that the voter coaches his favourite side. The voting started today.

This year’s Carling Black Label Cup game between Amakhosi and Orlando Pirates will be held at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 30 July (kick-off at 15:00).

“It always feels great to be voted in the starting XI,” George Maluleka reacted with a big smile on his face.

It will be the sixth year of the Carling Black Label Cup with Chiefs so far only having won the 2013 match.

“The team picked via the voting mechanism is the supporter’s preference,” Steve Komphela commented. “I only hope that they will select a squad I can work with in a certain tactical formation.”

2016 Carling Black Label Cup Entry Mechanism:

In order to enter and ‘Be the Champion Coach’, fans over the age of 18 must purchase a specially marked pack of Carling Black Label beer and look out for the unique code on the underside of the top.

By simply dialling *120*660* on their cell phones and entering their unique code from the pack and the # sign (with no spaces in between), they can then choose the team they would like to coach, and the players they would like to see in the starting line-up (at a cost of 20 cents per 20 seconds).

Those supporters who cast their votes can win great prizes, including a share of R3-million worth of airtime, match tickets to the spectacle event on Saturday, 30 July, and, best of all, a coach’s experience with either Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs at the sixth edition of the Carling Black Label Cup.