Brandon Truter on the pros & cons of the Carling Knockout Man of the Match award

The sponsors, Carling Black Label introduced this amount with the aim for players to raise the standard of their performances in the tournament. The results from the first round of the Fak’ Ugesi tournament with some giants dumped out, suggest that this is doing the trick.

Truter who led his side to a 1-0 win over Royal AM, says if a similar amount of prize money can be used in rugby to motivate players, why not football?

"You know what people don't know, Carling Cup with the other sponsor, the Castle Lager sponsoring rugby, R80k [R80 000], R50k [R50 000] of Man of the Match in rugby matches, on a weekly basis. So, this is something new for football and I think it's about time that the sponsors put up this kind of money for our boys in terms of having in terms of having a short career. Getting a pounding week in, week out. Putting your livelihood on the line," Truter said. 

"So, I don't see anything wrong with it. Yes, it's motivating for them, extra incentives but if rugby do it on a weekly basis what's R5 000 Man of the Match on a weekly basis compared to rugby? So, thank you to Carling Cup for minimising that gap and I'm hopeful it will stay that way. Hopefully in the near future in the league as well."

But there has also been an outcry about the voting system of this Man of the Match award, with some questioning the recipients this past weekend believing that it was more about the popularity than performance-driven.

Speaking after their game, Truter also had some questions for the stakeholders.

"Absolutely right there. I think Mokotjo [Kamohelo] was fantastic tonight. Some tackles he put in there, some blocks he put in there and also, progressed the ball. He hardly gave it away, tonight as well. So, ya it's about the popular players getting the votes tonight but Jamie [Webber] wouldn't be my first choice tonight. Although he had a good game.

I think he could have given us more tonight but it's down to supporters, what they want. Thanks to the sponsors to take it that way and not to form a panel as per usual. It uplifts every player on the pitch. So, that's exciting. Hopefully, we'll get the best out of everybody and the football will go a level up."