The arrival of England international striker Darren Bent at Tottenham Hotspur makes him a firm favourite to be a part of the club’s trip to South Africa when they take on Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in Vodacom Challenge matches this month.
Bent (23) has joined the White Hart Lane club having made 77 appearances and scored 37 goals during his two-season stay at Charlton Athletic. Previously, he had come through the ranks at Ipswich Town where he scored 55 goals in 141 appearances.
Bent is the second new face to join Dutch manager Martin Jol’s squad during the off-season, following the announcement that defender Gareth Bale had made the move from Southampton to Spurs.
With quality strikers of the calibre of England international Jermain Defoe and Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov (who scored 23 goals in his debut campaign at the club), other star players expected to be a part of Jol’s travelling party include Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, England internationals Paul Robinson and Jermaine Jenas, as well as Côte d’Ivoire midfielder Didier Zokora.
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 play the English club at Newlands on July 24.
The Vodacom Challenge derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will be staged at the Eastern Province Rugby Union Stadium in Port Elizabeth on July 26.
The winner of the derby will take on Spurs in the final, at Loftus Versfeld on July 28. – Sapa