Latest news with #CarlingCup
Daily Maverick
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Elevating the game: Carling Black Label connects local fans to the world's biggest stage
In South Africa, football goes beyond sport –it has become a source of unity, identity and pride. An inheritance passed down through generations, played in backyards, watched on township screens and argued about on taxi rides and in local bars. Its energy is in the chants on the stands, the pride in the jersey and the belief that the fan is as much a part of the match as the players on the pitch. From the Soweto Derby to midweek Premier Soccer League (PSL) clashes under flickering floodlights, local football is stitched into the national fabric. It's messy, passionate and unfiltered, and it is where talent is spotted barefoot, where coaches become uncles, and fans become part of the experience. Now, as South Africa's domestic champions step onto the global stage at the FIFA Club World Cup, another story is being written, one that centres on the teams and the people behind them – the fans. The ones who've stayed loyal through seasons of near misses and moments of glory. As part of South African Breweries' 130-year legacy, the brand has pioneered a uniquely fan-first approach that continues to redefine what sponsorship means. This journey is now taking a global turn as Carling Black Label partners with the Mamelodi Sundowns in the FIFA Club World Cup under the powerful banner: Champions to the World. Carling Black Label has had an enduring relationship with the game and an ongoing, deepening commitment to empowering local voices. It has long recognised that its true strength lies in the people who stand behind the sport, the passionate, knowledgeable and deeply invested fans. More than 91% of the brand's core audience follow local football and now Carling Black Label has responded by giving them real influence. Through groundbreaking initiatives like the Carling Cup, fans have been empowered to pick teams, call the shots and experience the game from the technical bench. What started as an opportunity to coach Soweto's giants has evolved into the reimagined Carling Cup and the birth of the Carling All Stars, an entire team selected by fans alone. This evolution speaks to SAB's commitment to remain freshly consistent when it comes to innovation: never standing still, always listening, and always building on what fans value the most. In the lead-up to the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament which brings together 32 of the best teams from around the world, Carling Black Label has introduced the Score Predictor. It's a digital platform which allows fans to forecast match results, recognising and rewarding the discerning knowledge of the Champion Fans. One of the biggest of these is an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the team that will be crowned the winners of the Fifa Club World Cup at their home stadium. The Score Predictor is a smart move for the brand. It celebrates the importance of fans in sport. And it validates their passion and expertise by giving them the opportunity to make predictions across 64 games. It's a clever digital tool that acknowledges the extraordinary amount of local knowledge and community commitment in South Africa and puts it on the global stage. The campaign isn't only about global access, however, it is also focused on local impact as Carling Black Label becomes a vehicle for a deeper social purpose. The brand understands its role and responsibility in shaping positive narratives, leaning into its market and celebrating positive masculinity which is anchored in respect, responsibility and leadership. Over the years, this focus has translated into programmes that have had significant influence and impact. In collaboration with the PSL, Carling Black Label commits to use Soccer as an influence for good through offering tools and mentorship for Players and soccer fans. efforts are grounded in the belief that there is gold in every bottle and in every man who chooses to lead with purpose. And through the SAB Sharp programme, this message is backed by a commitment to responsible drinking and ethical conduct. Through fan-first innovation and a purposeful brand vision, Carling Black Label has entertained and empowered, bringing Champion Fans closer to the game, providing platforms for their voices, and challenging the world to see South African football and masculinity through a different lens. The Champions of the World campaign is a culmination of over a decade of building trust, igniting pride and delivering value beyond the pitch. By blending consistent fan access with innovative experiences, the brand remains committed to pushing boundaries and creating platforms which reflect the power of sport as a force for good. DM
India Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
After PSG & Spurs, RCB vs PBKS could crown a season of stunning firsts
June 3, 2025 — Narendra Modi Stadium, AhmedabadIt's a final that few saw coming at the start of the season, yet one that now perfectly encapsulates the tone of 2025. For over 18 years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have been two of the IPL's most popular franchises — massive fan bases, big-name players, and unforgettable moments. But never the changes tonight. As these two long-suffering teams clash in the IPL 2025 final, one will finally shed their reputation as perennial underachievers. For Virat Kohli, now in his 18th season with RCB, the stakes are especially personal. Despite leading from the front across eras and scoring an all-time record 973 runs in 2016, the IPL title has always eluded him. Tonight could be his long-awaited moment of this story of breakthrough glory isn't exclusive to the IPL. Across sports, 2025 has been a year of firsts — a year where teams and players finally reversed years of heartbreak and found silverware that had always danced just out of RCB or PBKS — One Will Finally RiseBoth Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have featured in multiple playoff runs, and each has appeared in IPL finals before — RCB thrice (2009, 2011, and 2016), PBKS once (2014). Yet, neither has been able to finish the time, though, one it's Kohli finally lifting the IPL trophy, or a revamped Punjab Kings side completing a dramatic turnaround season, tonight's result will put an end to one of the longest droughts in T20 franchise cricket First-Time Glory Across EuropeadvertisementPSG Conquer Europe at LastAfter years of heavy investment and near misses, Paris Saint-Germain finally won the UEFA Champions League in 2025. What makes the triumph even more remarkable is that it came in their first post-Mbappe season. Under Luis Enrique, the team reinvented itself, playing as a cohesive unit rather than a collection of stars. Their emphatic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the final wasn't just historic — it was symbolic of a team breaking free from its Hotspur End 17-Year WaitIt wasn't just PSG. Tottenham Hotspur, long mocked for falling short at the final hurdle, lifted the Europa League by defeating Manchester United. It was their first major trophy since 2008 with the Carling Cup and a long-overdue payoff for a team that had often threatened but never delivered. For fans who'd grown used to hope turning into heartbreak, it was finally a reason to Finally Lifts a League TitleMeanwhile, Harry Kane, having departed Spurs for Bayern Munich in pursuit of trophies, had to wait longer than expected. But this season, he finally lifted his first Bundesliga title, ending a personal drought that spanned 19 years with his boyhood club and a turbulent debut season in Germany. For one of football's modern greats, enough and considered one of the best forwards of the game, 2025 brought long-deserved validation to his Palace Create HistoryIn a stunning FA Cup final, Crystal Palace upset Manchester City to claim the first major trophy in their history. For a club often seen as a mid-table mainstay, the result was groundbreaking. It wasn't just about winning — it was about doing it against one of the most dominant teams in English Domestic Drought EndsAnother club that finally broke their silverware curse was Newcastle United. Eddie Howe's side lifted the Carabao Cup, defeating Manchester City in the final and ending a 70-year wait for domestic honours. The last time Newcastle had tasted domestic success was in 1955 — which was also with an FA Cup win. This triumph was a full-circle moment for one of those clubs which have defined English football over the Hobart Hurricanes Break ThroughIt took 12 seasons, but the Hobart Hurricanes finally won their first Big Bash League title, defeating the Sydney Thunder in the final. Mitchell Owen played the innings of a lifetime, smashing 104 off 42 balls, rewriting the BBL record books, and ensuring Hobart no longer stood among the winless. Now, only the Melbourne Stars remain without a BBL Year of Release and RewardFrom Ahmedabad to Paris, London to Hobart, 2025 has been a year where persistence has finally been rewarded. The narratives that once defined these teams and athletes — of being the ones who always fell short — have been updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment! IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Glasgow Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Tottenham to celebrate Europa League win with Friday parade through north London
Brennan Johnson's 42nd-minute close-range finish helped Spurs edge out Manchester United by a 1-0 score in Bilbao to win the club their first trophy since 2008. Plans have now been unveiled for a victory parade, which is set to begin around 5.30pm on Friday at Fore Street in the Edmonton Green region, travel down High Road past Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before it concludes in the stadium's service yard on Northumberland Park. The open-top bus parade will last approximately 'between 60-90 minutes', with a staging area to be erected outside the stadium on Paxton Terrace to host the players and coaching staff for a presentation of the trophy to fans. Tottenham's James Maddison kisses the trophy (Adam Davy/PA) Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, the first head coach to lead the club to European success in 41 years, teased a 'massive parade' during his press conference in the bowels of San Mames on Wednesday night. 'What I do know is, I'll go back to my hotel room, get my family and friends together, open up a nice bottle of scotch, have a couple of quiet ones, get ready for a massive parade on Friday,' Postecoglou insisted. Tottenham declined the opportunity to hold an open-top bus parade after Carling Cup glory in 2008 and instead presented the trophy to supporters before a UEFA Cup fixture with PSV Eindhoven. The 1991 FA Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley was marked with a parade around the club's old White Hart Lane stadium. Johnson's scrappy first-half finish proved the difference at San Memes and helped Tottenham end a 17-year wait for silverware. Parade announcement 🏆 The Club is delighted to announce plans for an open-top bus victory parade on Friday 23 May, starting in Edmonton Green at 5.30pm. — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 22, 2025 'It means everything, honestly. Ever since I joined the club, I just thought this club is way too good to have not won a trophy in so long,' Johnson said. 'To be part of the team to have won a major competition, it feels unbelievable. 'We always had that underlying confidence. I mean it's a final, you never know what is going to happen, we're against Man United and their history speaks for itself, but to a man I believed in our team that we'd get the job done. 'I am so proud of every single player, every single staff (member) and it's for the fans. It's for us and we just need to enjoy it now.'
Leader Live
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Tottenham to celebrate Europa League win with Friday parade through north London
Brennan Johnson's 42nd-minute close-range finish helped Spurs edge out Manchester United by a 1-0 score in Bilbao to win the club their first trophy since 2008. Plans have now been unveiled for a victory parade, which is set to begin around 5.30pm on Friday at Fore Street in the Edmonton Green region, travel down High Road past Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before it concludes in the stadium's service yard on Northumberland Park. The open-top bus parade will last approximately 'between 60-90 minutes', with a staging area to be erected outside the stadium on Paxton Terrace to host the players and coaching staff for a presentation of the trophy to fans. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, the first head coach to lead the club to European success in 41 years, teased a 'massive parade' during his press conference in the bowels of San Mames on Wednesday night. 'What I do know is, I'll go back to my hotel room, get my family and friends together, open up a nice bottle of scotch, have a couple of quiet ones, get ready for a massive parade on Friday,' Postecoglou insisted. Tottenham declined the opportunity to hold an open-top bus parade after Carling Cup glory in 2008 and instead presented the trophy to supporters before a UEFA Cup fixture with PSV Eindhoven. The 1991 FA Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley was marked with a parade around the club's old White Hart Lane stadium. Johnson's scrappy first-half finish proved the difference at San Memes and helped Tottenham end a 17-year wait for silverware. Parade announcement 🏆 The Club is delighted to announce plans for an open-top bus victory parade on Friday 23 May, starting in Edmonton Green at 5.30pm. — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 22, 2025 'It means everything, honestly. Ever since I joined the club, I just thought this club is way too good to have not won a trophy in so long,' Johnson said. 'To be part of the team to have won a major competition, it feels unbelievable. 'We always had that underlying confidence. I mean it's a final, you never know what is going to happen, we're against Man United and their history speaks for itself, but to a man I believed in our team that we'd get the job done. 'I am so proud of every single player, every single staff (member) and it's for the fans. It's for us and we just need to enjoy it now.'
ITV News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Tottenham beat Manchester United to land Europa League glory in Bilbao
Tottenham ended their 17-year trophy drought and sent misfiring Manchester United into a tailspin as under-fire Ange Postecoglou oversaw a 1-0 victory in Wednesday's all-or-nothing Europa League final. It has long been a case of Bilbao or bust for these teams considering their wretched Premier League campaigns, with the San Mames showpiece offering the winner silverware and much-needed Champions League qualification. Spurs edged this tense all-English final, with Brennan Johnson's goal, thanks in no small part to a touch from Luke Shaw, Micky van de Ven's goal-line clearance and Guglielmo Vicario's stoppage-time save seeing them win a first trophy since the Carling Cup in 2008. Beaming boss Postecoglou silenced the critics – temporarily at least – as he stuck to his word by winning a trophy in his second season, while United will now spend a first campaign without European football since 2014-15. Ruben Amorim's already tough rebuild becomes that much harder without Champions League qualification after the Red Devils lost a first Europa League match of the campaign at the worst possible time. It compounds their worst top-flight season since suffering relegation 51 years ago, but this is Tottenham's night as Postecoglou's men joined the UEFA Cup winners of 1972 and 1984 in immortality. The first period flew by in a blur with few clear-cut chances, with Spurs having some early Onana was relieved that Noussair Mazraoui stopped a threatening early Pedro Porro cross reaching Richarlison, having been drawn off his line. United's goalkeeper stopped a Johnson cross-shot and Pape Sarr's follow-up was blocked, as was a Richarlison attempt as Spurs pushed against a side for whom Amad Diallo looked the liveliest player. The forward was close to opening the scoring in the 16th minute, showing intelligence before flashing a shot across the face of goal – and just beyond Rasmus Hojlund – from a corner Vicario flapped at. The end-to-end encounter swung Spurs' way in the 42nd minute. Sarr, who had looked a doubt for the game, sent over a right-footed cross from the left that ricocheted off Shaw and seemingly took the slightest touch off Johnson. The ball squirmed past Onana, sparking pandemonium in the Spurs end. Bruno Fernandes saw an effort blocked before the break and after the interval Vicario just about dealt with a dangerous Fernandes free-kick that returning Leny Yoro got a toe on. Diallo was denied in the box and Harry Maguire saw off the threat of Dominic Solanke after meeting a pass with a heavy touch on the break that followed. The game was on a knife-edge and Van de Ven saved Spurs – and Vicario's blushes – in the 68th minute. Tottenham's goalkeeper flapped at a simple-looking free-kick and Rasmus Hojlund's header was looping in until the Dutchman's acrobatic goal-line clearance, with Yoro's follow-up blocked. Amorim turned to his bench in a bid to change the dynamics and substitute Alejandro Garnacho brought a save out of Vicario shortly after Fernandes headed wide. Spurs went to three at the back in a bid to batten down the hatches but tempers frayed and Shaw's header in added-time – brilliantly saved – and a Casemiro overhead kick into the side-netting were the closest United came to a leveller.
