The evolution of fan power in SA football

FOR 14 years, South African football has been shaped not only by the giants on the pitch, but by the millions of voices in the stands,and now, their story is finally being told. A new documentary, Champions Call, hands the spotlight back to the "Champion Fans" who transformed a bold idea into one of the country's most influential football traditions.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI

CARLING Black Label's groundbreaking documentary 'Champions Call' reveals how SA football fans transformed from spectators to decision-makers. | Supplied

(Supplied)

Premiered on November 20 in Bryanston and set to air on SABC 1 on November 22 and 29, the two-part film traces the remarkable evolution of the Carling Black Label Cup, a tournament that dared to challenge football hierarchy and redefine fan involvement. Launched in 2011, the cup allowed supporters to select the starting lineups of the Soweto Giants, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, make the first substitutions, and in a national first, place ordinary fans on the touchline as "Champion Coaches".

What began as an experiment soon became a cultural phenomenon, with millions of votes cast annually and fans gaining unprecedented influence over match-day decisions.