Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs look to soccer passion and skill

Tottenham Hotspur, who finished 5th on the English Premiership table this season, has put in solid cup runs, reaching the quarterfinal stages of the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup, as well as the semi finals of the League Cup.

Boasting players of the calibre of inspirational team captain and defender Ledley King, Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, England internationals in striker Jermain Defoe, winger Aaron Lennon, midfielder Danny Murphy and goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and the likes of Ivory Coast midfielder Didier Zokara, Egyptian international striker Ahmed Hossam and Bulgarian international goal-getter Dimitar Berbatov, Dutch team manager Martin Jol is spoilt for choice in picking his starting line up.

The club, which plays its home matches at White Hart Lane, is likely to include their new signing, in 17-year-old left back Gareth Bale, who was recently signed from Southampton.

The Vodacom Challenge schedule will open with Tottenham Hotspur playing Kaizer Chiefs at the Absa stadium in Durban on Saturday, July 21, with the Amakhosi, on a mission to level matters after losing 2-0 to the English club, who toured SA back in 2003.

Tottenham Hotspur will in turn attempt to set the record straight, when they take on Orlando Pirates at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday, July 24.

Orlando Pirates beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, during the English club's pre-season tour of South Africa back in 2003. Steve Lekoelea's curling free-kick and a penalty slotted home by the late Lesley Manyathela, gave Orlando Pirates the victory on the day.

Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province will host the Vodacom Challenge Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday, July 26. The stakes will be high as the winner will take on Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Vodacom Challenge at Loftus stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng, on Saturday, July 28.

Gauteng Province Government, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said that the 2007 Vodacom Challenge will have a major social and economic impact on the province, creating sustainable and economic growth.

“As a province, we are proud to host the final showpiece event of the magnitude of the 2007 Vodacom Challenge, since it will portray the Gauteng Province as a committed role player in the world of sport,” said Premier Shilowa. “Our best wishes go to Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Tottenham Hotspur, in their quest to lift the coveted trophy at Loftus stadium on July 28, in the Gauteng Province – known as the Home of Champions.”

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government, and the Western Cape Provincial Government, have also come on board as official partners to the Vodacom Challenge, therby ensuring that the soccer fans in their provinces will share in the enjoyment of top class international Vodacom Challenge action. The partnership also extends to regional partner Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, who see the reward that associated Vodacom Challenge events can bring to their metro.

SAIL CEO Brand de Villiers whose company holds the rights to staging the annual Vodacom Challenge, said that the Vodacom Challenge – currently in its second year of a five-year plan which has been designed to allow soccer fans to witness SA's best soccer sides against top class international clubs – has already found a place in the hearts and minds of SA's passionate soccer fans. “We encourage the supporters go out and enjoy the Vodacom Challenge Experience, and applaud the tournament's sponsors in investing in sport as they bring their brands into the lives of the people,” said de Villiers.

Orlando Pirates Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza said that with the shrinking media space the Vodacom Challenge presents the perfect platform for South African football to remain ‘top of mind' in the international media sports columns.

“Tottenham Hotspur is a formidable test for our creative skills,” said Dr Khoza. “They bring a squad which includes six players that represented England against Brazil. Who can forget Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Zakora and Robbie Keane – Obviously they come here for revenge. We are ready!”

Kaizer Chiefs Chairman, Kaizer Motaung said that the Kaizer Chiefs squad will be striving to retain the Vodacom Challenge title – their fourth title triumph since the inception of the tournament in 1998.

“The Vodacom Challenge is the perfect platform for SA's rising talent to pit their skills against some of the best teams in the world, and we look forward to seeing many a rising star taking advantage of this opportunity to make their mark at the highest level in this year's tournament,” said Motaung.

Tottenham Hotspur Chairman, Daniel Levy, commenting on the Club's involvement in the ninth edition of the tournament said: "We are delighted to have been invited to take part in the Vodacom Challenge. We have a massive supporter base in South Africa which has been growing since our success in the 1960's and we continue to enjoy an affinity with the country where we were made to feel so welcome during our 2003 pre-season tour. The Club's support of the SOS Children's Village for orphaned and abandoned children in Rustenburg serves to further strengthen our existing excellent relationship with this wonderful country."

Romeo Kumalo, Vodacom SA's Executive Director: Commercial, said “Vodacom has, since its inception, demonstrated commitment to South African soccer through various sponsorship property. The Vodacom Challenge affords us another platform to bring to South Africans a sport that's central to their lives and showcase the best of South African football against the best of the world,” said Kumalo.

“The Vodacom Challenge is not just a local tournament, but offers us global exposure, profiling not only the teams and sponsors, but the country as a whole, in our readiness to host the 2010 World Cup,” concluded Kumalo.

Absa Group Executive, Group Marketing, Happy Ntshingila shared his company's delight in being a co-sponsor of the Vodacom Challenge. "Absa is proud to be an associate sponsor of the Vodacom Challenge and thereby further entrench our support of soccer in South Africa,” said Ntshingila. "We see this exciting tournament as an extension of the Absa Cup allowing the Absa brand to live-on in the minds of soccer lovers. Vodacom Challenge gives us the opportunity to create a once in a life time experience as fans watch local teams compete against a leading international side. It also provides a tangible link between Absa and the Barclays Premier League."

“We view our co-sponsorship of this prestigious event as a wonderful opportunity to enter the arena of soccer sponsorship by linking Macsteel, the leading steel distributor in South Africa, with one of the leading soccer tournaments in our country,” said Macsteel Marketing Director Dave Dawkshas. “We are also excited by the opportunity that the various corporate social investment initiatives gives our sporting youth to learn from the best in the world.”

Head of SABC Sport: Sizwe Nzimande said that the national broadcaster is proud to be the radio and television vehicle that will take the Vodacom Challenge Soccer Experience into the lives and homes of millions of enthusiastic soccer fans in our country. “SABC Sport prides itself on being the platform through which role models are showcased across all communities in South Africa. We look forward to many glorious moments of the Vodacom Challenge action that will inspire the youth of our country to follow in the footsteps of their soccer heroes,” said Nzimande.

PEP Stores Marketing Director Marcus Banga described his company's involvement with this year's Vodacom Challenge as an exciting sporting chapter in the history of PEP Stores' relationship with its customers in SA.

“PEP Stores is proud to reward its loyal customers by being a co-sponsor of an exciting international quality soccer tournament in the form of the Vodacom Challenge and hope that it will add to the growth of soccer in SA,” said Banga.
The Vodacom Challenge creates great football opportunities for our local teams by bringing in quality opposition, Kick Off and Daily Sun are proud to be a media sponsor of a tournament that gives the supporters something to cheer about.

Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge will go on sale at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers outlets nationwide from June 12 at the affordable per ticket rates of R35 (East stand), R60 (North and South Stands) and R100 (Main grand stand). All tickets to the Derby in Port Elizabeth will go on sale at just R35 each.

The ticket prices have been structured to allow for the all South African supporters to enjoy the Ultimate Vodacom Challenge Soccer Experience.

Event summary
21 July, Kaizer Chiefs vs Tottenham Hotspur, Kwazulu Natal
24 July, Orlando Pirates vs Tottenham Hotspur, Western Cape
26 July, Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs, Eastern Cape
28 July, Winner of 26 July match vs Tottenham Hotspur, Gauteng