By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
PSL Chariman Dr Irvin Khoza announced the new Carling Knockout Cup competition replacing the Telkom Knockout on Tuesday.
The Carling Knockout Cup will follow the same format of the Telkom Knockout Cup, traditionally known as the League Cup, where the 16 DStv Premiership sides will be drawn in a straight knockout tournament until a winner is determined.
The winners of the Carling Cup will play against a team selected by fans, 6 players from DStv Premiership sides and 5 players from Diski Challenge teams on December 16.
The development and evolution of professional football in South Africa dates back to the 1960’s when the marriage between NSL and SAB was consummated. The marriage has so many successes as SAB created the biggest beer brands on the continent and the PSL created the biggest professional football brand on the continent.
It is always refreshing for the PSL to be part of the innovative marketing ideas emanating from the SAB marketing conveyer belt.
“We are excited about the launch of this Carling Knockout Cup competition which will increase the share of the conversation voice in all the nooks and crannies, including all media platforms.” says Premier Soccer League Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza.
At Carling Black Label, our commitment has been to give our fans the two things they want most; Africa’s Most Award-winning beer and power in the sports that they love. This has inspired us to innovate and keep our offering fresh. Now we have been able to conceptualize this exciting Carling Knockout Cup based on our experience in the Carling Black Label Cup over a decade-long partnership with the Premier Soccer League and undoubtedly – our Champion fans, “says Carling Black Label Brand Director, Arné Rust.
Rust adds, “Our goal has been to empower our fans with a deeper knowledge of the game because we truly believe that the future of the sport is, and should be, in the hands of the fans. As the leading brand in terms of all things relating to supporters, progressing our football and empowering fans of the game with knowledge and a voice, we continuously challenge ourselves and strive to build upon our previous achievements; and we certainly see this most recent announcement as yet another milestone.
We would like to thank every member of the Premier Soccer League, who has walked this journey with us, as we start working towards the Carling Knockout Cup scheduled for 2023,” says Rust.
The Carling Knockout Cup is scheduled to be held on an annual basis, with the inaugural tournament debuting in 2023. The exhibition match fixture will see the winning team from the Carling Knockout Cup take on the fan-selected Carling Eleven in an all-star showcase of football skills.
The Carling Eleven squad will be composed of 23 players and a coach selected from the remaining 15 PSL teams that participated in the Carling Knockout Cup edition of the relevant season. As with every innovation introduced by Carling Black Label, the selection of the players will be made by the Champion fans.
The winners of the old Telkom Knockout pocketed R4m. Mamelodi Sundowns were the last victors, beating Maritzburg United 2-1 in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in December 2019.
Carling Black Label are the seventh brand to have sponsored this competition, known in many countries as the League Cup. Arcadia Shepherds won the first competition in 1982, then the Datsun Challenge, beating Highlands Park 2-0 in the final.