Fans all over the country voted enthusiastically from the day the campaign launched to ensure their favourites made the teams, making it no surprise when the campaign reached over 11-million entries*. Over 75 000 fans filled up the Soccer City Stadium to experience this world first in soccer.

Pirates received an incredible 4 228 188 votes from their fans, and the final team was a great success with the Bucs taking the cup home in a 4-3 penalty shoot out after a goalless 90 minutes. The fans’ team was comprised of Moeneeb Josephs, Lucky ‘Captain Fantastic’ Legwathi, Happy Jele, Rooi Mahumutsa, Roeben Cloete, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Mark Manyambela, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Chiukepo Msowoya and Bongani “Drogba” Ndulula.

Kaizer Chiefs suffered an unfortunate loss in penalties after a great 90 minutes of play. The fans voted a whopping 6 316 002 times for their starting 11. Chiefs fans’ team was made up of Itumeleng Khune, Jimmy Tau, Thomas Sweswe, Dominic Issacs, Lawrence Molekwane, Adia ‘the sole provider’ Nale, Mandla Masango, Josta Dladla, Simphiwe Tshabalala, Sthembiso Ngcobo and Lucky Khune. Unfortunately, due to injury, Tau had to be replaced with Tefu Mashamaite and Reneiloe Letsholonyane coming in for Mandla Masango.

On top of the votes for the starting line-ups, 40 000 votes were received in one hour on match day for substitution suggestions. Fans once again had the opportunity to 'Be the Coach' by SMS’ing the number of the player they wanted to see off the field for either team. These votes were audited by Grant Thornton and a substitution was made for each team in the 60th minute of the game.

Between 1 June and 30 July the 'Be the Coach' micro site, www.bethecoach.co.za, received 10 024 visitors, the 'Be the Coach' mobisite received an incredible 30 955 visitors, and the 'Be the Coach' tab on the Carling Black Label Facebook page had 7030 views.

Carling Black Label Cup ambassadors, Benni BetheCoach and Bra Nox, travelled around the country at the start of the campaign, recruiting fans and supporters along the way. Benni achieved 760 Facebook friends, 102 Twitter followers and 1067 views on his YouTube page throughout the duration of the campaign.

Overall the Carling Black Label Cup was a phenomenal success with unbelievable amounts of news generated. Although sales were never part of the key measurement criteria, the brand did notice an increase in purchase over the campaign period, but even more than that there was a visible increase in community spirit as soccer fans from all around South Africa gathered together to show that they too could 'Be the Coach'.

*Latest audited figures by Grant Thornton as at 00:00 on 27 July.