COCA-COLA HERO OF THE DAY (DAY 5)

Tino Swanepoel from the Golden Lions has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 5 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.  Tino was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by Springbok legend Victor Matfield after he broke the deadlock in the match between the Golden Lions and the Sharks. The match had been a closely fought up to that stage with neither team able to take charge of the match. Tino got the ball just outside his 22 and ran through the opposition defence to set up a try for his team mate David Cary, this try broke the deadlock and the Lions ended up winning the game 45-18.

“I am very happy to win the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day in the final match of the tournament. I am proud that I was able to help the team win our match against the Sharks,” said Swanepoel.

“It’s been a great week of the Coca-Cola Craven Week. We have witnessed some of the best schoolboy rugby action, which shows that the future of SA rugby is in good hands. It was  a tough game and Tino’s sudden break out of the 22 set up a beautiful try to put his team in the lead, and I can’t wait to see the 17 year old play again next year,” said Victor Matfield.

Phindi Phiri, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Marketing Assets Manager, “Congratulations to Tino for being chosen as the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 5. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where South Africa’s best, up and coming rugby players are identified – this is where heroes are made. Tino is a young player that showed a lot of composure to help his team in a tough game and this is a trait of a true Coca-Cola hero.”

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