Posted in News on Jun 20, 2008.
The one-day soccer tournament takes place next Sunday, June 29, at
the Atlantic Stadium in Witbank. Kaizer Chiefs, Swaziland's Mbabane
Highlanders, MP Black Aces and Grupo Desportivo de Maputo of Mozambique
will compete for the inaugural Mpumalanga Premier's International
Football Cup.
Chiefs take on Highlanders in the first semifinal at 9:30am. Aces
host the Maputo team at 11:am and the final will kick-off at 3:30pm.
Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung said his team will use the
competition as preparation for next month's Vodacom Challenge and the
Absa Premiership.
"It's our duty as Kaizer Chiefs to support these initiatives as we
(South Africa) gear up for the World Cup in 2010," he said.
"It also gives supporters in this area a chance to see their team
and we are grateful for this opportunity to play in Witbank. But what
is very important to us is that we prepare properly for the upcoming
Vodacom Challenge clash and for the new season.
Chiefs, together with Orlando Pirates, will lock horns with European
Champions League and English Premiership winners Manchester United next
month.
"Man United are Champions League champs, and we want to be ready for
them when they come here. We cannot embarrass ourselves on home soil
and our players also want to show that they have the quality to take on
this footballing giant," Motaung said sternly.
Chiefs are involved in another one-day competition on July 5 when
they contest the inaugural Phakisa Cup together with Pirates,
Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars.
"This is ideal preparation for us to show off our new players to our
supporters and more importantly for the coach to get a look at them and
test new combinations," Motaung stressed.