FORTY Zimbabweans will be part of those witnessing the Carling Black Label Cup clash between two of South Africa's top football sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates live at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The delegation, made up of Delta Beverages executives, employees, media personnel and Carling Black Label Beer consumers from all over the country flies out of Harare on Saturday morning and returns on Sunday evening.

Of these, 30 are winners of the Carling Black Label “Be the Champion Coach” promotion, 23 being men and seven females.

A send off was held for the group at the Delta Beverages Lagers branch in Harare’s industrial area of Southerton.

Speaking at the function, Delta Beverages marketing executive Patricia Murambinda, who is the chaperone for the trip to the neighbouring country, indicated that they also ran an internal competition for their sales manager and sales representatives for those who grew the Carling Black Label volumes from last year.

The promotion ran from 1 May to 30 June.

“Internally we also had an internal promotion for our sales staff, the sales managers and sales representatives so for the sales managers we have got five sales managers and we wanted one sales manager who would come tops in terms of selling Carling Black Label versus last year volumes in the period of the promotion that ran from the 1st of May to the 30th of June so we got a sales manager who won,’’ said Murambinda.

Other Delta Beverages senior management going to the match are sales executive Stanley Muchenje and Irimayi Muzorewa, the channel marketing executive.

With the starting line ups having already been named, two Zimbabweans have made it to the respective first elevens for the two Soweto giants.

Midfielder Willard Katsande will start the match for Amakhosi while striker Tendai Ndoro is in the first eleven for the Buccaneers.

Winger Edmore Chirambadare could feature off the bench for Chiefs while defender Teenage Hadebe misses out on making his Soweto Derby debut due to a groin injury.

The match will be broadcast live on Zimpapers' radio station Star FM, which means Zimbabweans without access to television will be kept updated on what is transpiring at FNB Stadium.

Last year, Chiefs beat Pirates 2-0 in the Carling Black Label Cup with goals coming from Erick Mathoho and Lewis Macha.

@Mdawini_29