Manchester City announce strong squad for 2009 Vodacom Challenge

Manchester, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 – English Premiership team Manchester City have confirmed that they will be bringing a full-strength squad to South Africa for the 10th anniversary of the Vodacom Challenge where they will tackle Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The Citizens’ executive chairman Garry Cook confirmed that manager Mark Hughes would have his full complement of players available, though the Brazilian duo of striker Robinho and midfielder Elano will arrive ahead of the final at Loftus Stadium on Saturday, 25 July.

The pair were in South Africa for the recent 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and Hughes is keen that they get sufficient rest before the long, hard season ahead.

New signing Carlos Tevez, who participated in the Vodacom Challenge last year with Manchester United, will also be in the squad, assuming he passes a medical at the club on Wednesday.

“There is lots of excitement in Manchester about the Vodacom Challenge and everybody is anticipating a great trip,” Cook says. “We are looking forward to the competition, which we know will be tough for the team, as we continue to prepare for the new English Premiership season.”

“The players have just completed a great week in Germany where they did a lot of fitness and stamina work and I know they are now looking forward to playing some games.

Cook also confirmed that the club would be launching their new kit in the opening match of the Vodacom Challenge against Orlando Pirates at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on July 18.

“We have concluded a 10-year, long-term contract with kit manufacturer Umbro and for the very first time in our history we will be launching a new kit outside of England,” Cook says. “We have a new team sponsor too in Etihad Airways and so the match against Pirates, which will be beamed back to a giant screen in Manchester, will be the very first time that our supporters will see the new players, the new kit and the new sponsors.”

Manchester take on Pirates in Polokwane on Saturday, July, before moving on to Durban’s Absa Stadium, where they will play Kaizer Chiefs. The Soweto duo will then do battle in Port Elizabeth’s brand-new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Thursday, 23 July, with the winner facing City in the 2009 Vodacom Challenge final on 25 July.

MANCHESTER CITY SQUAD FOR THE 2009 VODACOM CHALLENGE:

*Will only be available for the final on July 25

For further information, please visit www.vodacomchallenge.com

ABOUT SAIL GROUP

• Through extensive insight and unique positioning, the SAIL Group is at the forefront of sport and entertainment marketing innovation in Southern Africa. Backed by our major shareholders Venfin Limited and Vuwa Investments (Pty) Limited, SAIL Group brings our clients’ brands into consumers lives by providing solutions in sport business consulting, sponsorship management, event and hospitality management, and merchandising. SAIL Group is also a private equity investor in sport brands and through its companies, SAIL Sport & Entertainment, CIRCA, EXP and Navitute the promoter of the Vodacom Challenge – a SAIL event.

Maggie Sekoto (Forever Marketing)

Cell: 082 902 3780

Or

Augustine Nethononda (SAIL Group: Executive Promoter)

Cell: 072 671 5862