Johannesburg, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 – Former Manchester City midfielder, South African-born Colin Viljoen, expects Manchester City to be a highly competitive team and good value for money to watch, when they join Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the 10th anniversary edition of the Vodacom Challenge from 18 – 25 July.

Viljoen, who played 38 times for the English club as a midfielder from 1978-1980, as well as three times for the England international team, said: “The people from the North West of England are a friendly bunch but highly spirited when it comes to football. Mark Hughes has been manager of Manchester City for a year now and I am sure that the squad is beginning to understand his vision for the game. With players like Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Craig Bellamy and recently-signed England international midfielder Gareth Barry, I am sure that local fans will be in for a treat when the club takes on Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.”

“I have no doubt that Hughes has the ability to build Manchester City into a highly competitive force. He showed his potential as a manager during his spell at his previous club Blackburn Rovers. Hughes can read the modern game of football and will make a major impact if given the support of all involved at Manchester City.”

Manchester City will make their Vodacom Challenge debut in the Limpopo capital of Polokwane, when they take on Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 18 July (15h00 kickoff).

Kaizer Chiefs will face the visiting English club at the Absa stadium in Durban on Tuesday, 21 July (20h15 kickoff), before Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs clash in the annual Vodacom Challenge Soweto Derby at the new Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, 23 July (20h15 kickoff). The winner of the derby will compete against Manchester City for the coveted Vodacom Challenge title, at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane on Saturday, 25 July (15h00 kickoff).

The tournament promoters have gone the extra mile to keep prices as reasonable as possible with tickets for the Limpopo leg of the event set at R100 per ticket (main grandstand, unreserved seating) and R45 per ticket (open seating, unreserved).

KwaZulu Natal soccer supporters will be able to choose between the categories of R150 each (main grandstand, reserved), R100 each (north and south stands reserved), R75 each (east stand lower, reserved) and R45 each (east stand upper, unreserved).

Tickets for the Soweto Derby clash in Port Elizabeth will be on sale at R45 each, while a rush for match tickets is expected as soccer supporters look to ensure their places for the grand finale in Tshwane, at a cost of R150 each (main grandstand, reserved), R100 (north and south stands, reserved), R75 each (east lower stand, reserved) and R45 each (east upper stand unreserved).

Tickets are on sale at Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper outlets nationwide.

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