Last weekend South African teams were given a lesson on how to play the various sporting codes. First Bafana Bafana played their first match as Council of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) Cup champions and left the field as losers to Zimbabwe, then the Springboks were thrashed 16-52 by the All Blacks.
Some pride needs to be restored when two of South Africa’s soccer giants, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, take on English premiership team Tottenham Hotspur in the 2010 bid challenge. Orlando Pirates get the first shot when they play Spurs in Durban on Saturday, while Chiefs’ turn comes on Tuesday in Cape Town. Hopefully one or both of the South African sides can help avenge the recent 2-1 defeat by the English national team.
Pirates and Sundowns are the only two local clubs that have been able to defeat English opponents. In 1993 Pirates took on the then premiership club Crystal Palace and hammered them 2-1, while Sundowns beat Leeds United 1-0.
Pirates have the opportunity to prove that the South African league is up to scratch and that they are not league champions for nothing.Â
At the same time Pirates will use this game as part of their pre-season training and also prepare for the African champions league. A capacity crowd is expected at King’s Park in Durban, where both teams might show off their newly acquired players. Pirates have bought four players during the off-season: goalkeeper Makweni Mayala, defender Musasa Muamba, midfielder John Avery and striker Tshamala Kabanga. Tottenham Hotspur have acquired two new strikers, Helder Postiga and Bobby Zamora, who have already started to pay back their transfer fees with good performances in victories over Oxford and Wycombe Wanderers. With these two victories Spurs come to South Africa on a high, but the same cannot be said for Pirates or Chiefs.
In the recent Vodacom Challenge Pirates were defeated by TP Mazembe of Congo. Although Chiefs won that pre-season tournament, their joy was short-lived. They went to represent South Africa in the Peace Cup in South Korea where they were humiliated in two defeats and a draw — though they earned the fair play award.
Chiefs will be hoping that on Tuesday their players can retain some of the team spirit they discovered in their final Peace Cup performance against Turkish champions Besiktas, where they drew 2-2.
Spurs’ visit is more than just the two friendlies. The London-based side will also conduct a number of football clinics. The friendly matches were organised by the bid committee in order to create awareness about South Africa’s campaign to host the 2010 World Cup. Bid chief executive officer Danny Jordaan said: ‘We want to demonstrate our wealth at club level by engaging top clubs from around the world and also build awareness of our bid to host the 2010 World Cup.â€
The international club challenge will help showcase South Africa’s enthusiasm about soccer and the country’s skills in hosting such a prestigious tournament. Jordaan said the games would show the world that South Africa can compete on the field of play and also that there is great support for soccer in the country. Spurs long-time skipper and 1991 FA Cup winner Gary Mabbutt has been chosen as an ambassador for South Africa’s bid.
The games against Spurs will have curtain raisers. In Durban Golden Arrows will play Supersport United before the main game’s 3.30pm kick-off, while in Cape Town Santos will play Ajax Cape Town before the 8.30pm kick-off on Tuesday night. There will be no extra time in any of the games. If the scores are level at full time the teams will go straight into a penalty shootout. There will be pride, a trophy and medals at stake in the club challenge.Â
The last time Spurs were in the country was in 1963 when they played three games, beating an NSAFL invitational XI 5-1, a National Football League (the white league) selection 5-2 and a South African XI 3-1.