After lengthy discussions and deliberations, Kaizer Motaung, MD of Kaizer Chiefs together with his technical staff and players, have reconsidered the request of the Bid Committee and have decided to participate in the 2010 Bid Friendly against Tottenham Hotspurs scheduled for the 29th July 2003.

This decision also emanated from discussion held with Orlando Pirates chairman, Mr. Irvin Khoza who also concurred with the importance of making the teams available for the Bid Friendlies.

"It is important for us as a club to support the 2010 Bid Committee in their commitment to bring the 2010 World Cup to South Africa. It is our responsibility as South Africans and as the biggest club in the country to do whatever is possible to facilitate this process, for the good of soccer & for the country itself,” said Mr. Motaung in Daejeon (South Korea) where he is staying with the team who is preparing for their first game scheduled for tomorrow against Olympique Lyonnais.

"The game against Tottenham Hotspurs scheduled for the 29th July 2003 in Cape Town falls during a very tight team schedule. The players will be recovering from the Peace Cup tournament, which is taking place at the moment in Korea (where there is an 8-hour time difference from South Africa) and preparing for the beginning of the league season.

"However, the technical staff and players understand the importance of the 2010 Bid Friendly and have committed to perform at their level best in order to demonstrate the professionalism and the capability of South Africa to host the World Cup 2010," said Mr. Motaung.

The initial decision of abstaining from participating in this series of friendlies requested by the 2010 Bid committee was mainly due to the fact that the team will be over fatigued before the commencement of the league and league competitions, because of their pre-season commitments.

Kaizer Chiefs as a matter of fact is due back from the Peace Cup in Korea on the 25th of July 2003. Thereafter they will be preparing for the Bid game against Tottenham scheduled for the 29th July 2003 in Cape Town and will also probably be included in the Telkom Charity due to take place that same week on the 2nd August 2003.

The following week they will be taking on Wits in the SAA Supa 8 competition on August 10 and thereafter will be playing their fist league game.