Tournament Background

Originally known as the Vodacom African Challenge the competition was conceptualised and first played in 1999 as communications giant Vodacom sought to leverage their sponsorship of Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The first year of the competition saw two of the giants of the African continent invited to the pre-season tournament. Asec Mimosa, the reigning African champions were joined by Tunisia’s Esperance. Orlando Pirates walked away with the trophy after an emphatic
4-1 win over Esperance. 

The 2000 tournament started on a sour note when Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, the new African champions, withdrew as it was felt that their participation was in conflict with Morocco and South Africa’s battle to win the right to host the 2006 World Cup.  Power Dynamos of Zambia were added as a late replacement, joining Ivorians Africa Sport who held the African Cup Winner’s Cup.  The final between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs failed to live up to pre-match expectations, although it did provide a fascinating battle in midfield.  Kaizer Chiefs walked away 1-0 winners.

The 2001 Vodacom Challenge held special meaning for supporters from both Ghana and South Africa.  Ghanian clubs Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak were invited to play.  The organizers dedicated the tournament to the 43 fans who had died at Ellis Park just a few months before, as well as the 126 people who perished at the Accra Sports Stadium during a match between Hearts and Kotoko just weeks before the Ellis Park tragedy.  It was a sobering occasion for all, and a reminder that much was still to be done to ensure the safety of spectators across the continent.  The final produced no goals and the match went to penalties with Kaizer Chiefs managing to retain the trophy they won the year before with a 3-2 win on penalties against Asante Kotoko.

Asante Kotoko returned for the 2002 event, where they were joined by DRC outfit St Eloi Lupopo.  The final was settled by a single spectacular goal from Musasa and Asante Kotoko became the first foreign side to lift the Vodacom Challenge trophy. 

St Eloi Lupopo returned to defend their title in 2003 and were joined by compatriots TP Mazembe.  Chiefs claimed their third title in the final after winning 3-2 on penalties after a goalless match.  It was after this tournament that TP Mazembe’s Felix Musasa joined Pirates. 

As had been the growing trend over the years, the 2004 Vodacom Challenge was dominated by shoot outs.  TP Mazembe were back, this time joined by newcomers AS Vita.  The final that pitted Chiefs against AS Vita Club was disappointing until the dying minutes of the game when a goal from each side saw the match go to penalties.  AS Vita went on to win the shoot-out 4-3.

Defending champions AS Vita and Green Buffaloes of Zambia were invited the next year and both fell at the first hurdle setting up a dream final between Pirates and Chiefs.  The final in Durban was a cracking match that provided great entertainment for the expectant crowd.  Pirates held on to claim their second trophy after a long six year wait.

2006 saw a change in format with Chiefs and Pirates now taking on a European giant.  Manchester United was named as the competition.  Chiefs and Pirates each took on Man United in an exhibition match followed by a derby clash to determine who would play the visiting team in the final.  Kaizer Chiefs represented South Africa in the final and after a nail-biting penalty shoot out, Kaizer Chiefs raised the new-look trophy in glory.

Tottenham Hotspur, hoping to emulate Manchester United by visiting South Africa and winning the Premier League the next season were the international team in 2007.  Spurs played Pirates in the Final and walked away with the Vodacom Challenge Final.

Manchester United returned in 2008 to avenge their loss to Kaizer Chiefs in 2006.  In a hard fought final, the Manchester United team with big names like Rooney, Ferdinand and Teves lifted the trophy and once again the Vodacom Challenge trophy travelled to distant shores.



Vodacom Challenge Stars of the Past

Manchester City’s galaxy of stars will add to the considerable list of world-class talent that has already passed through the hands of the Vodacom Challenge over the last 10 years.

The English Premier League club paid a transfer record fee of 42,5-million Euros last season for the services of the Brazilian Robinho – the fifth highest in the history of the game. They are expected to add several more top quality players to their squad before the start of the 2009/2010 campaign and unveil them on South African soil during the Vodacom Challenge.

They will join a long list of internationals who are household names, led by the newly-crowned English Footballer of the Year Ryan Giggs.

Participation by Manchester United in two of the last three Vodacom Challenge tournaments has afforded South African fans a close up look at the talent of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes.

Tottenham Hotspur also brought established internationals like Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas when they won the 2007 edition of the Vodacom Challenge.

Also part of their side was the Cote d’Ivoire international Didier Zokora, who was a teenager when he participated in the first edition of the Vodacom Challenge in 1999 for ASEC Abidjan.

The ASEC line-up a decade ago also included Kolo Toure, who has gone on to captain English giants Arsenal, and Bakary Kone of Olympique Marseille, a past winner of the France’s top player award.

Tunisia’s Esperance showcased the giant defender Radhi Jaidi, who has since moved to play in England, while Africa Sports from Cote d’Ivoire in 2000 has Abdelkader Keita leading their attack. Two years ago, French champions Olympique Lyonnaise paid 18-million Euros for Keita in a transfer from Lille.

In the 2003 edition of the Vodacom Challenge, the Congolese club FC St Eloi Lupopo defended their title with midfielder Zola Matumona in their line-up. He has since gone onto play in Belgium and for his national side and at the 2006 African Nations Cup finals won an unprecedented three man of the match awards.

Tresor Mputu, the top goal scorer in African club competition for two successive years, has also been a past participant in the Vodacom Challenge in the colours of three-time African champions TP Mazembe Englebert.

Famous managers and coaches have included Sir Alex Ferguson, the all conquering boss at Manchester United and Martin Jol, who has since left Tottenham for a successful career in the German Bundesliga with Hamburg SV.

Participating clubs (14):
Kaizer Chiefs (10),
Orlando Pirates (10),
Asante Kotoko (2),
AS V Club (2),
FC St Eloi Lupopo (2),
Manchester United (2),
TP Mazembe Englebert (2),
Africa Sports (1),
SEC Abidjan (1),
Dynamos (1),
Esperance (1),
Green Buffaloes (1),
Hearts of Oak (1),
Tottenham Hotspur (1)

Winners:
Kaizer Chiefs (4),
Orlando Pirates (2),
AS V Club (1),
FC St Eloi Lupopo (1),
Manchester United (1),
Tottenham Hotspur (1)

Runners-up:
Kaizer Chiefs (4),
Orlando Pirates (2),
Asante Kotoko (1),
Esperance (1),
Manchester United (1),
TP Mazembe Englebert (1)

Biggest winning margin:
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Manchester United 4 (2008);
Orlando Pirates 0 Manchester United 4 (2006)

Biggest winning margin in final: Kaizer Chiefs 0 Manchester United 4 (2008)

Number of penalty shootouts: 12
2001 Asante Kotoko bt Orlando Pirates 4-2 on pens after a 1-1 draw
2001 Pirates bt Hearts of Oak 4-3 on pens after a 0-0 draw
2001 Kaizer Chiefs beat Kotoko 3-2 on pens after a 0-0 draw
2002 FC St Eloi Lupopo beat Pirates 4-3 on pens after a 2-2 draw
2002 Pirates beat Kotoko 8-7 on pens after a 1-1 draw
2003 TP Mazembe Englebert beat Pirates 4-2 on pens after a 1-1 draw
2003 Chiefs beat Mazembe 3-2 on pens after a 0-0 draw
2004 Chiefs beat Mazembe 9-8 on pens after a 0-0 draw
2004 AS V Club beat Pirates 4-3 on pens after a 2-2 draw
2004 AS V Club beat Pirates 4-3 on pens after a 1-1 draw
2005 Chiefs beat AS V Club 6-5 on pens after a 1-1 draw
2006 Chiefs beat Manchester United 4-3 on pens after a 0-0 draw

Hat tricks: David Radebe (Kaizer Chiefs v Lupopo, 2003)

Player scoring for two different teams (1): Kabamba Musasa (for Lupopo in 2002 and Chiefs in 2003)

Stadiums used (number of matches):
Absa Stadium, Durban 16,
Independence Stadium Mmabatho 8,
Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace Phokeng 5,
Newlands Cape Town 3,
EPRU Stadium Port Elizabeth 3,
Loftus Versfeld Tshwane 3,
Soccer City Johannesburg 2,

Winners:
Coaches:
Muhsin Ertugral 2,
Viktor Bondarenko 1,
Ted Dumitru 1,
Alex Ferguson 1,
Martin Jol 1,
Mohamed Magassouba 1,
Ernst Middendorp 1,
Bibey Mutombo 1,
Kosta Papic 1.

Players who have won the tournament with two different clubs:
Kabamba Musasa (Lupopo in 2002 and Kaizer Chiefs in 2003);
Blaise Lelo Mbele (AS V Club in 2004 and Orlando Pirates in 2005)

See the previous results and line-ups here