Akona Ndungane called up to scout Coca-Cola Craven Week Heroes

Proud sponsor, Coca-Cola welcomes rugby legend and 2007 Rugby World Cup winner, Akona Ndungane, as the Coca-Cola Craven Week ambassador and lead panelist for this year’s selection team of the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day. The 2018 edition of Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week will be held at Paarl Boys’ High from 9-14 July 2018. Akona, who attended Hudson Park High School and played for Border in the 1998 Coca-Cola® Craven Week in Vanderbijlpark knows, from experience, that this is a tournament that is truly where heroes are made.

“Coca-Cola Craven Week tournament is a platform for identifying the top school rugby players in the country - this is where South Africa’s future heroes are made” said Puso Makume, Sponsorship Manager, Coca-Cola Africa. “Akona Ndungane will be a great addition to the tournament, using his knowledge and experience to inspire and identify talented youngsters as the leader of our Coca-Cola Hero of the Day campaign.” Makume concludes.

Akona, together with Coca-Cola’s appointed panel of youth sports and rugby specialists, will be watching rugby hopefuls play it out at the Coca-Cola U18 Craven Week. He will be tasked with identifying and recognising a standout player who embodies the qualities of a hero -  the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day.

“Playing in the Coca-Cola Craven Week was one of the greatest moments in my rugby career. I am thrilled to be part of the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day panel as it gives me an opportunity to watch fresh rugby talent in action on one of the best rugby development stages. This is where I started my career and for many of the players who will be on display, the tournament will be a stepping stone to future honours,” commented Akona.

The Coca-Cola Hero of the Day is not necessarily the best player on the field. He cold be the flank that made three successive tackles and forced the turnover; the scrumhalf that took a quick tap penalty and dived over for the match-winning try; or the centre that made a courageous try-saving tackle. This player is a player that makes a great impact and has incredible influence in changing the nature of the game.

For more information follow #WhereHeroesAreMade on Twitter or visit @CocaCola_ZA

CAMPHER’S BRILLIANT BATTING WINS HIM HERO ACCOLADE

CAMPHER’S BRILLIANT BATTING WINS HIM HERO ACCOLADE

Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week

Hero of the Day (Day 3)

Curtis Campher from Gauteng has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 3 of the 2017 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket 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.  Curtis was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of cricket experts after he batted brilliantly when his team needed him most. Curtis came to the crease when Mpumalanga had Gauteng 12 for 5 and he batted well to score 48 not out and managed to get his team to 115 for 6, which proved to be a winning total.

“It is a real honor to win this award. My main aim in this tournament is to do my best for my team. The boys are doing well and I would like us to continue to put good performances together,” Campher said.

“Well done to Curtis Campher for winning the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day award for his brilliant 48 not out against Mpumalanga, coming in when his team were 12 for 5,” said Proteas legend and Coca-Cola Hero of the Day panel lead Victor Mpitsang.

Phindile Phiri, Coca-Cola Africa’s Senior Communications Manager commented, “We are halfway through the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week and we have already seen many heroic moments. Today we changed formats to T20 cricket and a lot of the boys excelled in the new format. Curtis stepped up to the plate for his team and we are proud to call him our Coca-Cola Hero of the Day.”

To follow all the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week action follow #WhereHeroesAreMade on social media.

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Media Contact

Shawn Belluigi

Tel: 083 675 4338

Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za

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

COCA-COLA KHAYA MAJOLA CRICKET WEEK HERO OF THE DAY (DAY 1)

Gideon Peters from Northerns has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 1 of the 2017 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket 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.  Gideon was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of cricket experts after he took 4 wickets and ran out a player to take the 5 required wickets in Border’s second innings to help Northerns win outright, a very rare outcome for the timed cricket games at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week.

“Sometimes things just fall into place and work for you and that is what happened to me today. My captain only wanted me to bowl 2 overs but I felt like I was on a roll and had more wickets in me. I would like to thank my team mates for all the support they have given me both today and before the tournament,” said a delighted Peters.

“Gideon was outstanding in his bowling today, especially in the second innings. He was quick and accurate, and his performance was definitely the turning point of the game. Well done to him on a great performance,” said Proteas legend and Coca-Cola Hero of the Day panel lead Victor Mpitsang.

Phindile Phiri, Coca-Cola Africa’s Senior Communications Manager commented, “The Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week is Where Heroes Are Made and for Gideon this is hopefully just the beginning of a bright future in the game.  On behalf of Coca-Cola Africa I extend my congratulations to him. I can’t wait to follow his career going forward as he works towards becoming a hero of South African cricket.”

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Media Contact

Shawn Belluigi

Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za

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

Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week: Western Province players to look out for Thando Ntini and Daniel Moriarty

Name: Thando Ntini

Age: 17

Telephone number:

Team: Western Province

School: Wynberg Boys High School

Batting and Bowling Skills: left hand bat /Right arm fast

Previous Provincial weeks: U13 and U17

Batting and/or bowling performance in 2016/17 week: Last year I had a great U17 week, I took a lot of wickets (10 in the tournament) and hit some runs, I did well enough to make the South African U17 team that played in the Cubs week.

Who is your cricketing hero and why is he your hero? My father, Makhaya Ntini, he is an ex Proteas player and he has inspirational to me to watch when I was growing up. He is very supportive and when he is able to he flies to South African from Zimbabwe, where he is coaching, so watch my games. I also love watching Virat Kohli, I love his attitude and the way that he plays.

Do you have a non-cricket hero and why have you chosen this person?  My coach Guy October, I changed schools last year and he helped me fit into the new schools and encouraged me to improve my play.

What do you think makes a hero? I believe that a hero needs to be humble and he needs to help other players. I try to live by this rule, I have given my number our to other players that I have either played against or with and sometimes they call me for advice or they can call me to vent their frustrations, I make sure that I have always got time to talk to these guys. I have learned a lot of lessons from my father and I am more than willing to pass those lessons on to other players.

What are you expecting from this year’s tournament? I do not want to put too much pressure on myself. I want to do everything that I can to help my team win all their matches.

What are your cricketing highlights for 2017 so far? I have had a decent season, since I changed schools I battled a little initially but thank to my coach I fitted in quickly and my play improved. I played for the South African U19 team against the West Indies and now I am playing against England and Namibia. This season I have two performances that have stood out, 48* in the Cubs week and 4/56 against the West Indies.

Name: Daniel Moriarty

Age: 18

Telephone number:

Team: Western Province

School: Rondebosch

Batting and Bowling Skills: Left-hand bat / Left Arm off-spin

Previous Provincial weeks: U17 and Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week

Batting and/or bowling performance in 2016/17 week: I had a good experience last year. I learned a lot that I can take to this year’s tournament.

Who is your cricketing hero and why is he your hero? Daniel Vettori – He is also a left Arm Off-spinner like me, he was a fantastic bowler and I enjoyed the whay that he captained his team. He started very young and learned quickly to become one of the best players in the word.

Do you have a non-cricket hero and why have you chosen this person?  Elon Musk because he realizes not only his dream but also the dreams of others. He is a leader in the world at what he does and he is also changing the world.

What do you think makes a hero? A hero is not always on the field performance based, he doesn’t have to be the best in the team but he needs to set a good example and he needs to help people in need.

What are you expecting from this year’s tournament? I want to gain new experiences and I would like to meet new people. I want to measure myself up against some of the best players in the country.

What are your cricketing highlights for 2017 so far? In our final game of the season we boled Bishops out for 40 and I took 3 wickets without conceding a run in 3 overs.