Our country has embraced the Vodacom Challenge as one epic event that showcases our stature as a football nation following our historic re-admission into the international arena of sports. Most notably, the successful hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup has cemented our stature as competent to match international standards of managing major events.

Since inception eleven years ago, the Vodacom Challenge has witnessed the presence of top teams from the African continent and similarly with its change in structure and approach, it has attracted giants of European football into our shores.

African teams like Asante Kotoko and Asec Mimosa that were part of the inaugural occasions brought incredible display of skill which currently dominates European football. The likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur blessed our African soil to yet demonstrate the power of football as a unifier and a balm that soothes any socio-economic discomfort amongst nations.

Whilst we are currently captivated by the recent successes of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, we should not trivialize the significance of our successful hosting of the Vodacom Challenge; another event that was referenced during the intricate bidding process for 2010. In the most recent years, we have seen the organizing committee of the competition introducing more innovation in pre-marketing and the actual hosting of the event.

Logistics around hospitality, security and travel have continually been fine-tuned to match international requirements that make such an occasion to stand out amongst the best in the world.

In addition, the event has not only impacted on the players but has stretched its significance onto the communities that hosted some of its proceeding through its CSI programme.

For the players, the event has become a launch pad of their international careers following its ability to attract foreign and international media into our shores. Record attendance has been accounted in the matches played in Durban the Eastern Cape, and Cape Town whilst the derby also stood its mettle as a semi-final match in the proceedings.

The Eastern Cape’s Rugby Union Stadium, and lately the Nelson Mandela Stadium have been swarmed to rafters every time it hosted both Chiefs and Pirates. All these occasions have in some measure, provided varying lessons for Technical Teams considering the different playing environments and levels of competitiveness amongst players.

The experiences in Cape Town and Durban have also drawn interesting social dynamics that saw other nations that are otherwise not seen in local matches turning in droves just to catch a glimpse of European superstars of football. This phenomenon has obviously challenged local football to devise means of gaining inroads into such communities through efforts to attract their support for local football.

This season we are hosting Tottenham Hotspur, in a repeat encounter of the 2007/8 season. You will recall that they shipped the trophy to their hometown after snatching it from Orlando Pirates in the finals. The exciting aspect of their second coming is that they boast an exciting squad of international players including our own Stephen Pienaar. They are also visiting after the competition was suspended to accommodate the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

We hope they shall enjoy our effort and return to share their experiences with others so that the Vodacom Challenge becomes one African occasion they all would not want to miss. I hope therefore that South Africans would also rally behind our teams during the 2011 Vodacom Challenge.

May I therefore express our hearty appreciation of the support from Vodacom and SAIL. I believe our association could still grow in leaps to further implement a lot of innovation into the competition. Ours is a collective responsibility to sustain our country’s image as a growing democracy and a powerhouse of both sports and economy in the continent.

May I thank Dr. Khoza for the part he played in ensuring that the vision of the Vodacom Challenge becomes a reality. I may not forget the sisterly bond that was forged between Jessica Motaung, the Casseletti Sisters and the late Zodwa Khoza in ensuring that both the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates brands assume their critical roles in the competition. I would therefore like to honour such memories and hope that the 2011 occasion lives up to its reputation to unite us in spirit.

May I also thank the South African media for its patriotic support. We hope that they would continue to be an integral part of this occasion until the final whistle.

May I thank the entire Vodacom Challenge’s Management team from Vodacom, and SAIL. Unbeknown to many of us, the team has been hard at work since the moment they gathered to evaluate the 2008/9 season’s occasion. I therefore wish them success in their undertakings.

I thank you.

Kaizer Motaung (Mr.)


Chairman/Managing Director