Bafana Bafana legend Mark Fish said that Orlando Pirates must put their past triumph over English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur out of their minds and focus on the way forward, when they take on defending champions Kaizer Chiefs and the English club in this year’s Vodacom Challenge to be held next month.
Fish, a former Orlando Pirates defender who also played for Italian giants Lazio, said the Vodacom Challenge presents the home side with an opportunity to take their level of play to a new dimension.
”The visit by Spurs to compete in the tournament is a learning curve for South African football ahead of the Fifa 2010 World Cup,” said Fish.
”English football changes almost every four years as they have a good development structure which produces talented youngsters and this is an area in which our clubs still have to grow, but what better a platform to unearth the stars of tomorrow than at the Vodacom Challenge? It’s now up to the fans of the clubs to come out in great numbers and to cheer their heroes on towards glory.”
Spurs will announce their travelling party on June 30, but have promised to send a full-strength squad, which is set to have a strong African influence.
Dutch coach Martin Jol is expected to select his starting line-up from players of the calibre of inspirational team captain and defender Ledley King, Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, England internationals striker Jermain Defoe, winger Aaron Lennon, midfielder Danny Murphy and goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Other possibilities include Côte d’Ivoire midfielder Didier Zokara and Bulgarian goal-scoring hero Dimitar Berbatov.
The week of Vodacom Challenge soccer action will see four time winners Kaizer Chiefs up against Spurs at the Absa stadium in Durban on July 21, while Orlando Pirates will take on the English club at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town on July 24.
The derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will be staged at the Eastern Province rugby stadium in Port Elizabeth on July 26.
The winner of the derby will take on Spurs in the showpiece final at Loftus on July 28.
Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge are on sale at Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper outlets at R35, R60 and R100. All tickets to the derby in Port Elizabeth will go on sale for R35 each.
Tickets will not be sold at the stadiums on match day. – Sapa