COSAFA CASTLE CUP HISTORY

The Cosafa Castle Cup celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, proving its longevity and its preeminent position among regional tournaments in world football.
Zimbabwe are the defending champions but will be tested by the new force in the region, Angola, who were World Cup finalists and only the second side from the region to go to the World Cup.
Angola and Zimbabwe are the only countries to have won the event three times. Angola’s success in 2004 and meant the got to keep the first trophy in perpetuity.
A total of 13 teams again compete this year in the second year of a new format of competition.
It is the third time a different format for the competition has been used, since the Cosafa Castle Cup was inaugurated in 1997.
It has delivered four different winners and also seen another three countries play in the final, proving the competitive nature of the event.
Last year Zimbabwe edged out Angola and Zambia on successive days to emerge as winners in the tournament hosted in Mmabatho, South Africa.
Angola won their third title in dramatic style in 2004, going to the backyard of fierce foe Zambia and winning in a penalty shootout to claim the trophy.
The final was played over just one match in Lusaka and Angola triumphed over their hosts 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw.
‘Palancas Negras’ had previously won the Cosafa Caste Cup in 1999 and 2001, on both occasions also claiming the trophy away from home.
In 1999, Angola needed extra time in the second leg in Windhoek to overcome the Namibians, who were making their second final appearance in three years.
Zimbabwe and Angola played out a gritty final in 2001, with the two legs scoreless until ‘Palancas Negras’ striker Flavio netted just three minutes from the end of the second match in Harare.
Zambia hold the distinction of having won the first Cosafa Castle Cup and took it again in 1998 when the format was still decided on a round-robin basis.
Zimbabwe are the other double winners, first in 2000 in a one-sided decider against Lesotho when they won by a record 6-0 on aggregate.
The Warriors easily disposed of Malawi in the 2003 final to grab the trophy for the second time.
Zimbabwe were also beaten finalists in 1998 against Zambia when Rotson Kilambe got a late winner and to the Angolans at home in 2001.
In 2002 South Africa, who have emerged as the powerhouse of the region, finally lived up to their top seeded billing and took the cup.
The Cosafa Castle Cup had been something of a ‘holy grail’ for Bafana Bafana previously, as they had stumbled and spluttered in past editions, but in 2002 the country added their name to the list of winners.
South Africa beat Malawi 4-1 on aggregate over two legs in the final just a few months after playing in the World Cup finals – the only Cosafa member that has been able to achieve this feat.
The Cosafa Castle Cup enjoys a wide profile, well beyond the borders of its member countries.
Live television coverage, unprecedented for a competition of this nature, takes the event into the homes of people right throughout Africa and also into Europe and South America.
The tournament is one of a kind on the international calendar, given that no other regional event can boast a similar longevity or as wide a reach as the Cosafa Castle Cup.
On top of a brilliant competition, the Cosafa Castle Cup also offers record prize money and other financial incentives for the players. Caste Lager has annually increased its sponsorship of the tournament and brought in many innovative premiums along the way.
All the prize money is exclusive of the match costs, which are all borne by Castle Lager.
The sponsors pick up transport and accommodation costs and pay the players a daily allowance. Home associations, who host matches in the Cosafa Castle Cup, keep all the gate takings from their matches, adding to the way that Castle Lager is able to help football in southern Africa.