Carling Black Label unveils exclusive two-part documentary
The highly anticipated documentary released its first episode on November 22 and will follow with the second episode on November 29 on SABC 1.
The Carling Black Label hosted an exclusive premiere of its two-part documentary, The Champions Call, on November 21 at Bryanston.
The highly anticipated documentary released its first episode on November 22 and will follow with the second episode on November 29 on SABC 1.
The two-part documentary follows the evolution of the Carling Black Label Cup, unfolding a 14-year story in which South African football fans gained the power to select teams, influence decisions, and step into the role of Champion Coaches.
A pre-season tournament, which pitted Soweto Giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates against each other, and gave Champions Fans true power.
Speaking at the exclusive premiere, Carling Black Label brand director Kerryn Greenleaf described the documentary as a story of culture, innovation, and pushing against the norm.
“This story and its richness show that there is an amount of life that has been touched, it is a story that is much bigger than a brand, and that’s why it needs to be shared,” said Greenleaf.
She called the Carling Black Label Cup a true game changer, as it turned couch coaches into real coaches.
Among the tournament’s most remarkable journeys is that of Chief Micho Nkoko, a schoolteacher whose 2017 coaching role in the cup set him firmly on the path to a coaching career.
The film explores how the Cup has evolved over the years. In 2022, fans had the power to choose the four participating teams. By 2023, the event had grown into a showcase of South African talent, with an All-Star squad facing off against the Carling Knockout champions.
The documentary features the voices of fans alongside influential figures such as Jessica Motaung, Bernard Parker, Itumeleng Khune, coach Steve Komphela, and Victor Hlongwane, who officiated the first Carling Cup.
“This is a film about breaking boundaries and bringing the fan into the boardroom, the change room and the pitch; not only barring them at the stands,” said Champions Call director, Valentino Mathibela.
