The Vodacom Challenge will celebrate its 10th anniversary in style when Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs look to end the English dominance of the popular international football tournament. Barclays English Premiership club Manchester City will join the race for the trophy honours. Following the title successes of English clubs Tottenham Hotspur (2007) and Manchester United (2008), the Soweto giants will be out to ensure that the Vodacom Challenge trophy spends the next 12 months in Gauteng.

The tournament’s history gives a clear indication that the pre-season football event that has grown from its African roots to become a much anticipated fixture on the football calendar.

With Orlando Pirates (1999 and 2005), Kaizer Chiefs (2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006), the Democratic Republic of Congo clubs in St Eloi Lupopo (2002) and AS Vita (2004), Tottenham Hotspur (2007) and Manchester United (2008) all having lifted the Vodacom Challenge title, the hunt for goals is expected to reach new heights as the teams race to land the coveted title during the magical 10th anniversary of the event.

Did you know that the most number of goals scored in one Vodacom Challenge game by a single side is four … and it happened on four occasions!

Orlando Pirates were the first team to complete the feat when they put four past Tunisian side Esperance in the 1999 final to win the first-ever title.

A David Radebe hat-trick – the only one in the history of the Vodacom Challenge – helped Kaizer Chiefs beat St Eloi Lupopo from DR Congo 4-1 in the semifinals in 2003, while in 2006 Pirates were on the losing end of a 4-0 loss by Manchester United.

Just to complete then symmetry, Chiefs then became victims of a 4-0 hiding at the hands of United in the final in 2008, meaning the Soweto giants have both dished out, and conceded, four goals in a match.