COCA-COLA® CRAVEN WEEK HERO OF THE DAY (DAY 3)

De-an Ackermann from Griquas has been named the Coca-Cola® Hero of the day for day 3 of the U18 Coca-Cola® Craven Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment.  De-an was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by SuperSport anchor Elma Smit.  De-an displayed heroism and good sportsmanship after offloading the ball in a tackle to a player that was in a better position than him instead of going for personal glory and his third try.

"It is an honour for me to win thie accolade but there is no I in team so my first goal is to help the team out and if I do that well then the awards will come,' said De-an

“A big congratulations to De-an on his selection as the Coca-Cola® Hero of the Day.  His selflessness is what you look for in a hero.  This is especially true in a tournament where you stand the chance of being picked for the Coca-Cola® SA Schools side - you might want to go for personal glory and forget about what is good for the team. De-an put teamwork first and is therefore well deserving of this award.” added Elma Smit.

Fetsi Mbele, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Senior Communications Manager: Brand Experience concluded, “The Coca-Cola® Craven Week is Where Heroes Are Made and for many of the players here this week, this is just the beginning of a future in the game.  I look forward to following the likes of De-an as they carve out a career for themselves in South African rugby.”   

About the Coca-Cola® Craven Week

The Coca-Cola Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament aimed at identifying the top school rugby players in the country. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven.  Coca-Cola became the naming rights sponsor in 1985. There are four tournaments that take place during the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, namely the Coca-Cola U/13 Craven Week, Coca-Cola U/16 Grant Khomo Week, Coca-Cola U/18 Academy Week and the Coca-Cola U/18 Craven Week.  Many of South Africa’s top rugby players have participated in the Coca-Cola Craven Weeks as a springboard to their professional careers including former World Cup winning captain’s John Smit and Francois Pienaar.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages.  More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work