Vodacom Challenge opening fixture kicks off in Limpopo

Polokwane, Friday, 17 July 2009 – Limpopo’s debut hosting of the Vodacom Challenge is expected to produce some breathtaking moments of soccer magic!

Orlando Pirates and Manchester City will meet in the opening match of the 10th anniversary of the tournament which will take place at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane tomorrow (15h00 kickoff).

Manchester City have been hard at work in the transfer market to boost their strike-force. Carlos Tevez is perhaps the most high-profile addition to the squad. Paraguayan international striker Roque Santa Cruz has also joined the Blues along with England international midfielder Gareth Barry. Add in forwards Shaun Wright-Phillips and Craig Bellamy and soccer enthusiasts are in for a treat.

Orlando Pirates goal-getter Gilbert Mushangazhike and inspirational winger Dikgang Mabalane are also in the hunt for goals. The Vodacom Foundation’s Goals For Miracles initiative could be laying out some serious cash, with R150 000 per goal scored during regulation time to go the way of the South African National Council for the Blind, Netcare and the Pretoria Eye Institute, for disadvantaged elderly citizens in need of cataract operations.

Gates open at 11h00 on match day. The celebratory beat will be heard across the nation when Vodacom gives away 10 000 Djembe Drums (African Drum) as an early arrival incentive at tomorrow’s match. Vodacom will bring new meaning to the word communication as the fans beat their drums in support of their teams.

With Kwaito stars Bricks, as well as house specialists, DJ Cleo and DJ MK set to keep the fans in a party mood before the big kickoff, this year’s week-long Vodacom Challenge is set to be the best to date!

Vodacom: Executive Director: Commercial, Romeo Kumalo said: “On behalf of Vodacom, I would like to wish Orlando Pirates and Manchester City the best of luck for what should be an epic 90 minutes of soccer skill and passion.

“Manchester City are heralded worldwide as a club with a proud history, and their clash against Orlando Pirates promises to produce the finest kickoff imaginable as far as this year’s tournament is concerned,” said SAIL Group spokesperson Sizwe Nzimande.

Tickets for the Limpopo leg of the Vodacom Challenge are already sold out.

The second leg of the tournament between Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester City will take place at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, 21 July (20h15 kick-off). Tickets are on sale at R150 per ticket (main grandstand, reserved), R100 per ticket (north and south stands reserved), R75 per ticket (east stand lower, reserved) and R45 pert ticket (east stand upper, unreserved).

The much anticipated Vodacom Challenge Soweto Derby will be held at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, 23 July (20h15 kick-off). Tickets for this clash are on sale at only R45 each.

In the show-stopping final, Manchester City will face the Derby winners at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane on Saturday, 25 July (15h00 kick-off). Match tickets can be purchased 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).

The 10th anniversary of the Vodacom Challenge is made possible through the support of title sponsor Vodacom as well as PEP, PRASA, SABC Sport, KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government, Eastern Cape Provincial Government and Limpopo Provincial Government, including Limpopo Tourism & Parks and Capricorn District Municipalities.

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