ENGLISH SOCCER LEGENDS COME TO SOUTH AFRICA

The celebrated English Premiership Club, Manchester United, is to be part of the line-up for the 2006 Vodacom Challenge Cup.

The annual event was launched yesterday, at a glittering star-studded event at Vodaworld in Johannesburg.

Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Manchester United will battle it out on the soccer field for the coveted cup. For one week in July all the country will be focussing on is soccer once the challenge commences on 15 July. The cup-winning match will be played on 22 July.

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Barbara Creecy, Kaizer Chiefs chairman Irvin Khoza, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza, Kaizer Chiefs boss Kaizer Motaung, Vodacom head Peter Matlare and Manchester United legend sir Bobby Charlton, were some of the high-powered personalities at the launch. The spirit of competition and soccer enthusiasm was evident in the atmosphere.

"We are honoured to have Manchester United playing on South African soil. In the years leading up to 2010, the plan is to bring other top international teams to battle it out against Chiefs and Pirates, and to create a sustainable event that will be recognised on the local an international soccer calendar," said Shilowa.

The Cup Challenge is a major stepping-stone in the build-up to 2010 and confirms Gauteng's place in South Africa as the home of champions. Events such is these are aimed at nurturing the province's sporting talents and achievements and making Gauteng a preferred home for competitive sports.

"When the final whistle blows on the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, the build-up to the 2010 World Cup (in South Africa) begins. The Challenge will be one of the first large-scale international soccer events in our country with the potential to attract thousands of international visitors. In addition to the overwhelming support for Chiefs and Pirates, Manchester United has tens of thousand, if not millions, of supporters in our country," said Shilowa.

He also said that the four planned matches will give all South Africans the opportunity to experience the best football the country can give.

Gauteng will also host another major international soccer club FC Porto which will visit South Africa next month for matches against Mozambique, Jomo Cosmos and Bloemfontein Celtic. The former Uefa winners will stay for eight days and South Africans will have the chance to see one of our favourite sons, Benni McCarthy in action again but unfortunately, playing for the Portuguese side.

Khoza said soccer in the country was experiencing exciting times. "Every week there is a new announcement about soccer, and now we are hosting one of the greatest clubs in the world," he said. He added that the plan is to invite an international soccer-bigwig every year in the run-up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup. "We want to show the world what we can do with a soccer ball," said Khoza.

The Vodacom Challenge is a joint initiative between the Gauteng Provincial Government, Vodacom, Absa, SABC, SAA and Naspers.

The starting match will be played between Pirates and Manchester United in Durban on 15 July, followed by the second match between Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United on 18 July in Cape Town. The third match will be played between Pirates and Chiefs on 20 July in Rustenburg, and the winner of the third match will battle it out for the cup against Manchester United on 22 July at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane.

Khoza said ticket prices have not been confirmed yet, but they should be announced about three weeks before the Challenge starts.