Bigger fan-input for Carling Black Label Champion Cup

SOCCER fans have something to look forward to again when the Carling Black Label Champion Cup game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs takes place on July 29 at FNB Stadium.

In an exciting new addition to the campaign, the role of the fans have grown as Consumer Coaches have this year been tasked with not just selecting the starting line-up for their respective teams, but also the formation that they will play in the showpiece encounter.

Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi played under many coaches during his 14 years as a player at the club and he is clear about which formation he preferred as a defender.

“The years we won the ‘Treble’ (2010/11 and 2011/12) we were playing 4-4-2 and we had the right players then to compliment the formation. Everybody is very clear in their roles and it is just about doing your particular job.”

“Chiefs like to build from the back, so 4-4-2 gave us the numbers in midfield to press them and try and win the ball, and also the cover of four defenders.”

Former Chiefs midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi was an intelligent playmaker during his two spells with the club that included two league winners’ medals.

He prefers the 4-2-3-1, but says like many formations, it is only really effective if you have fullbacks willing to do the hard yards up and down the flanks in both defence and attack.

Nkosi says that teams do have to be flexible though and that while it is always best to select a formation based on the strength of your own squad, sometimes you have to look at what the opposition brings to the game too.

“Having a single formation or one way of playing is not always going to be suitable for each and every game, and you will have an opposition that will be trying to counter what you are doing.”

The four formations provided to the fans in the Champion Cup are the oldest, but still in regular use with 4-4-2, giving both attacking and defensive balance.

The offensive 3-5-2 and 3-4-3, placing more players up the pitch for high-pressure football and the most popular attacking formation in modern football 4-3-3, leaving enough cover at the back for possible counter-attacks.

Potential Consumers Coaches who are over the age of 18 can stand a chance of winning the same Champion Cup matchday experience where two lucky fans will join their favourite team in training, sit in the pre-match briefing and be part of the technical set-up on match day. – ANA