Issued by: SAIL


The men from Old Trafford are set to travel to SA with a strong squad which, injury permitting, could include England stars Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, as well as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

The team will be led by Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, and will be looking to set the record straight, after going down in a penalty shoot out to Kaizer Chiefs, in the final of the 2006 Vodacom Challenge.

Bennett Chenene's goal allowed Orlando Pirates to book their place in last year's Vodacom Challenge final with a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in Port Elizabeth and under coach Owen da Gama, the black-and-white-clad club are expected to mount a serious challenge for honours, with young Bafana Bafana striker Excellent Walaza expected to play a key role up front.

Kaizer Chiefs meanwhile, are expected to field a host of young rising talent as well as their festive season signing in Venezulan international Jose Terrealba, who played an important role in Mamelodi Sundowns' 2006/2007 Premiership-winning campaign.

With the lively Itumeleng Khune in goal and strikers of the calibre of former Bafana Bafana star Shaun Bartlett and Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Kaizer Chiefs have the power to mount a serious challenge for their fifth triumph.

The Vodacom Challenge schedule will kick off with Kaizer Chiefs taking on Manchester United at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, July 19, before Orlando Pirates get their chance to take up the challenge against the English club at the Absa stadium in Durban three days later.

On Thursday, July 24, the EPRU stadium in Port Elizabeth will once again be the scene of the ‘Soweto Derby' between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs to decide which team will qualify to play Manchester United in the final of this year's tournament. Last year's Vodacom Challenge derby showdown at the same venue brought about a record 20,4 television audience rating. The showpiece final is expected to be played in front of a sell-out crowd at the Loftus stadium in Tshwane on Saturday, July 26.

The Department strives to promote excellence and high performance in sport and to position the province as the Home of Champions, a place where the best and the highly talented come to showcase their talent. There is thus a strong fit between this exciting competition and the Gauteng brand. The Gauteng brand is no doubt enhanced by events like these, just as the Vodacom Challenge, we believe, gains from being mounted in the province with a huge fan base, with good facilities and with great potential for involving entrepreneurs.

Events like these help to build the profile of Gauteng as a preeminent investment sporting, touring and cultural destination. Through promoting the province as a preferred destination for key events, we are aligning ourselves with Development goals in the province. For us, sport forms part of our broader goals of economic development and job creation.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape Provincial Government, have continued their commitment towards hosting Vodacom Challenge action in their provinces, to ensure that soccer fans in the areas can share in the excitement and passion of the annual tournament. The partnership also extends to regional partner Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, who see the reward that associated Vodacom Challenge events can bring to their metro.

Brand de Villiers, CEO of SAIL Group is excited at the prospect of staging the 3rd Vodacom Challenge in its current format. He said: “SAIL Group is again ready to bring one of the biggest tournaments and definitely one of the most exciting, to South Africa and the African continent. The tournament has gained a huge following and it is a privilege to have Manchester United back for a second time, competing against Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. I'd like to personally wish all three teams the best of luck.

“With the approach of the FIFA World Cup 2010, all eyes are on the organisation of tournaments such as these in South Africa. I am confident that SAIL will again stage an event like no other, an event that South Africans can be proud of, and an event that will bring our sponsors' and teams' brands into the lives of their fans forever.”

Orlando Pirates Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza commented: “The arrival of Manchester United always creates a big media hype but this time around they arrive in the country exactly 50 years after the Munich disaster. We join millions of people all over the world in remembering all the players and officials who lost their lives and we join in prayer in strengthening the relatives, management and Board of Directors of Manchester United in commemoration of this day.

“But also it is important that the opportunity must be created that interaction takes place between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs players to share experiences with Manchester United players, in particular Wayne Rooney – remember when he arrived at Manchester United he was just a young player; now look at his physique, his strength and his temperament on the field – because he recognises the expectations of the supporters and understands why he is on the field of play. Discussions between players have not happened before, they must happen now to assist our players who are all aspiring to play at this level to understand what it takes. The visit is not only about winning the Vodacom Challenge trophy but also about sharing professional ethics.”

Kaizer Chiefs Chairman, Kaizer Motaung said that the Kaizer Chiefs squad will be striving to win back the Vodacom Challenge title in their quest for a fifth title since the inception of the tournament in 1999.

“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.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that the Vodacom Challenge tournament will be a great opportunity to prepare the squad for the English Premiership football season.

“The 2008 Vodacom Challenge will mark Manchester United's third visit to SA and will create a platform for many a rising star to elevate their level of play in order to strive to become a regular member of the Manchester United starting line-up for the new English Premiership season,” said Ferguson.

Expressing delight, Vodacom SA MD Shameel Joosub, said, “The return of international sports brand Manchester United to take on local powerhouses Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, holds the promise of a week of soccer spectacular.

“The Vodacom Challenge has become an institution on the domestic and indeed international soccer calendar. As we prepare to present the 10th edition of this popular tournament, we trust that this year's event will further enhance South Africa's stance as a soccer-loving country- as we take a step closer to the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said Joosub.

Tournament co-sponsors were just as excited about seeing this year's Vodacom Challenge tournament going down in history as the best to date.

Macsteel, Southern Africa's leading distributor of steel and value added steel products believes that steel plays a crucial part in all aspects of our lives from the stadiums that host the Vodacom Challenge to the goal posts of the beautiful game.

“At Macsteel we are passionate about sport as it embodies lifeskills such as common vision, teamwork and goals. Once again we are excited to be co-sponsors of the prestigious Vodacom Challenge which uniquely appeals to South Africans from all walks of life. We wish Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United the best of luck in this year's tournament,” said Dave Dawkshas, Macsteel's Group Marketing Director.

“PEP, Southern Africa's largest retail store and South Africa's number one customer service company, is proud to be part of the Vodacom Challenge for the second year in a row. The Vodacom Challenge is one of the major soccer events in the country and it dishes out great soccer to millions of supporters in our country and abroad,” said Marketing Director of PEP, Marcus Banga. “We are excited by the knowledge that our participation in the spectacular Vodacom Challenge will make it possible for many of our soccer loving customers to go to the stadium to watch world – class football at prices that they can afford.”

Sizwe Nzimande, Head of Sport: SABC Sport, said: “We are proud to be the official broadcast partner of the Vodacom Challenge and looks forward to bringing many moments of exciting soccer action involving Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and the visiting English Club, Manchester United into the lives and homes of South Africa's passionate soccer- loving fans. In so doing, SABC sport is supporting the SABC's corporate vision of Broadcasting for Total Citizens Empowerment.”

“We are proud to once again be media partners to the 2008 Vodacom Challenger through our titles Kick Off and the Daily Sun. It is an event that has become one of the most eagerly anticipated on the South African soccer calendar and a benchmark for pride, passion and ingenuity in our game,” said George Dearnaley, Associate Publisher, Kick Off Magazine.

Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge will be on sale from mid-May, with prices structured to ensure that all soccer-loving South Africans will be able to afford to watch international club soccer of the highest quality.


Event summary

19 July	Kaizer Chiefs vs Manchester United, Cape Town
22 July	Orlando Pirates vs Manchester United, KwaZulu Natal
24 July	Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs, Eastern Cape
26 July	Manchester United vs winner of 24 July match, Gauteng

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Through extensive knowledge and unique positioning, the SAIL Group is at the forefront of sports and entertainment marketing and innovation in Southern Africa. - more....

[22 Feb 2008 14:53]

Share this page (Tell me more)

Click on one of the links below to share this page on a social bookmarking website. To read more on social bookmarking click here