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Tottenham Hotspur’s visit for the 2011 Vodacom Challenge will be the fourth time the club has toured South Africa - strengthening the special bond between the English Premiership giants and our country.

The North London side will be in South Africa from July 16-23 to compete against Orlando Pirates FC and Kaizer Chiefs for the Vodacom Challenge trophy, but will further extend the hand of friendship that has seen them not only help to develop budding young South African stars, but also make donations to uplift communities.

The reach of Tottenham Hotspur in South Africa is perhaps typified by the impression they made on their first visit as European Cup Winners 1963.

None other than South African Vice-President Kgalema Motlanthe was drawn in by the array of stars that side contained and, almost 50 years later, remains a loyal Tottenham Hotspur fan.

"When that great Tottenham Hotspur team came to South Africa, under the captaincy of Danny Blanchflower and managed by Bill Nicholson, it just left a lasting impression on me," Motlanthe said recently at a ceremony where he was handed a commemorative Tottenham Hotspur Opus.

"There were great players there like Jimmy Greaves, Cliff Jones and Dave Mackay, and they are legends, and since then I have always followed Tottenham Hotspur through the different managers and different generations, and I think the current generation come very close to emulating that '60s generation." concluded the Vice-President.

The 1963 tour took place in May and June of that year, with Tottenham Hotspur playing three matches, all of which they won
The first game saw the side take on an NFL Invitation XI and the visitors triumphed 5-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Les Allen and further goals from Jones and Frank Saul.

They followed that up five days later with a 5-2 success over the same NFL Invitation XI, with Greaves and Jones getting a brace each, and the fifth coming from Terry Dyson.

The final match of the tour was against a South African XI in what was seen as an international match. The visitors were too strong though and ran out 3-1 winners with goals from Greaves, Eddie Clayton and Bobby Smith.

In 2003 the club returned to South African shores to support the country’s bidding to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals. Tottenham Hotspur’s high-profile visit showed off the country’s fantastic stadiums, passion for football and world-class infrastructure.

The Londoners took on the Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates FC and Kaizer Chiefs, in what was a much-changed South Africa from their last visit. That was the start of a growing rivalry between the three clubs.

Orlando Pirates FC were victorious in the first game of the tour, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from the late Lesley Manyathela (penalty) and a wonderful free-kick from Steve Lekoelea. The visitors’ netted via an own goal from Muamba Musasa, who was making his debut for The Buccaneers.

But Tottenham Hotspur bounced back to beat Kaizer Chiefs in their second tour match, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Robbie Keane and Matthew Etherington. It was a fine end to a successful visit that showcased South Africa’s readiness to host the FIFA World Cup™ finals.

Four years later and the club were back in the country, this time to compete in the 2007 Vodacom Challenge, reigniting their rivalry with the Soweto duo.

Tottenham Hotspur again beat Kaizer Chiefs in their opener, a 2-1 victory coming courtesy of goals from Keane and Dimitar Berbatov. Shaun Bartlett had briefly equalised for the Amakhosi.

The visitors won the second game against Orlando Pirates FC by the same score-line, this time Darren Bent and Wayne Routledge were on the score-sheet, with The Buccaneers managing a late consolation through Josephy Kamwendo from the penalty-spot.

The Vodacom Challenge final that year saw the same two sides meet and this time the victory was more resonant for Tottenham Hotspur, who raced into a 3-0 lead inside 22 minutes thanks to goals from Bent (two) and Berbatov.  

There is also a very special relationship between the club and South Africa through several relationship. Since that 2007 visit, Tottenham Hotspur has announced three separate partnerships, with SuperSport United, children’s orphan charity SOS Children’s Villages and South African specialist bank and asset manager Investec.

Three years ago the club officially opened the doors to the Tottenham Hotspur House in the SOS Children’s Village in Rustenburg. The house is now home to a family of children all in full-time education. Members of the current first team also sponsor orphans in the village as part of the club’s work with the community.

Their partnership with Matsatsantsa in the Tottenham Hotspur/SuperSport United Academy has established a successful coach and player exchange programme that has seen academy players visit the UK for training and tournaments.

The current Tottenham Hotspur squad contains two South African international players, the current Bafana Bafana skipper Steven Pienaar and defender Bongani Khumalo, who joined the London club from SuperSport United in January this year.
Tottenham Hotspur’s visit for the 2011 Vodacom Challenge starts with a meeting with Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday, July 16, before they take on Orlando Pirates FC at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on Tuesday, July 19.

Thereafter they will play the winner of the match between Orlando Pirates FC and Kaizer Chiefs that will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, July 21, with the grand finale to be played at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, July 23.

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