Vodacom Challenge tickets on sale
27 May 2008
Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge, which will feature European Champions League winners Manchester United taking on Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, have gone on sale. The Red Devils will visit South Africa in July to prepare for the new English Premier League season.
While many of the club's stars will miss the South African tour because Euro 2008 runs from 7 June to 29 June, they will remain a powerful outfit in which the experienced Paul Scholes will be called upon to control the midfield.
The inaugural winners of the Vodacom Challenge, Orlando Pirates, and four-time winners, Kaizer Chiefs, will need to keep the former England international in check if they hope to knock off the current English Premiership title holders.
Crucial role
Orlando Pirates' coach Owen da Gama recognizes the crucial role Scholes will play for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. "Orlando Pirates need to bring in a strong tackling midfield anchor man that can pressurise a player of the calibre of Scholes, who provides a great deal of creative attacking flair to the club's playing pattern,” he said.
"The danger of taking on a team like Manchester United is that, besides Scholes, they have another six or seven players on the field who are equally capable of banging in the goals, and Orlando Pirates will have to work hard to close, and give the English club as little time on the ball as possible.
Fielding new signings
"Like Manchester United, Orlando Pirates will also take the opportunity to field a host of new signings during the Vodacom Challenge. But the reality is that whatever line up Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson puts out on the field, they will always be a world class club force."
When United last visited South Africa in 2006, they were beaten in the final of the Vodacom Challenge by Kaizer Chiefs, who won 4-3 from the penalty spot after the teams had finished regulation time level at nil-nil. The English club had earlier beaten both Chiefs and Pirates in preliminary games.
Last year, Tottenham Hotspur claimed the silverware as they ran roughshod over the Buccaneers in the final, winning 3-0.
Ticket outlets
Tickets for the soccer extravaganza have gone on sale at Computicket, Checkers, Checkers-Hyper and Shoprite outlets throughout South Africa.
The competition schedule kicks on Saturday, 19 July, when Kaizer Chiefs take on Manchester United at Newlands in Cape Town. Tickets for the match start at R60 in the east stand upper levels. Places in the north and south stands, as well as the east stand lower level are available at R120, and the west stand costs R250.
On Tuesday, 22 July, the action moves to the Absa stadium in Durban for the showdown between Orlando Pirates and the Red Devils.
The pricing structure is similar to that in Cape Town, with the west and east stand upper levels costing R60, the north and south stands R120, and the west and east stand lower levels R250.
Soweto derby
Two days later, the Soweto derby between Chiefs and Pirates take place at the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, as it did in the previous edition of the Vodacom Challenge. With Manchester United already guaranteed a place in the final, the clash could decide which team the English giants will tackle in the final.
During last year's Vodacom Challenge match, the television viewership was the highest yet for a Soweto derby. It was also an record for any South African football clash.
All stand tickets for the Port Elizabeth showdown are on sale at only R45 each.
Final
The Loftus Stadium in Pretoria will host the final in front of what is expected to be a sellout crowd on Saturday, 26 July.
The prices echo those for all other matches involving Manchester United: R60 for the east stand upper level, R120 for the north and south stands, and R250 for the west stand.
"The ticket prices have been structured to allow all South African supporters to enjoy the Vodacom Challenge Soccer Experience," said Brand De Villiers, CEO of the SAIL Group.
"Building on the successes of previous years, we will once again adopt a reserve seating policy. Spectators are encouraged to get their tickets early to secure the best seat in the house. If supporters wish to sit together they are encouraged to purchase their tickets together."
No tickets will be sold at the stadiums on match day.
SAinfo reporter
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