Home town hero Robbie Keane scored to allow Barclays English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur to beat Eircom league side St Patrick’s 1-0 in Dublin, and the Republic of Ireland striker and his team-mates will be looking for more goals when they take on defending champions Kaizer Chiefs in the opening fixture of this year’s Vodacom Challenge, at the Absa stadium in Durban on Saturday (15h15 kickoff).

Keane will have mixed memories of his previous trip to South Africa in the colours of Spurs in 2003, having been a part of the team that lost 2-1 to Orlando Pirates in Durban and having got one of the goals that saw the London side beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 in Cape Town three days later.

Defender Anthony Gardner and Keane are the only two players in the Spurs travelling party that toured South Africa four years ago and with team manager Martin Jol having selected a powerful 25-member playing squad to make the trip to South Africa, local fans are in for a treat.

Keane joins Dimitar Berbatov, Jermaine Defoe and new signing Darren Bent, as the formidable strike force that departs for South Africa on Wednesday in preparing to take up the challenge against Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

Following their fixture against Chiefs in Durban on Saturday (15h15 kickoff), Spurs will travel to Cape Town to face inaugural tournament winners Orlando Pirates at the Newlands stadium on Tuesday, 24 July 2007 (20h35 kickoff), while Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will meet in the Vodacom Challenge Derby at the EPRU stadium on Thursday, 26 July 2007 (20h35 kickoff). The winner of the derby will face Spurs in the Grand Finale at the Loftus stadium in the city of Tshwane on Saturday, 28 July 2007 (15h15 kickoff).

No match tickets will not be on sale at the stadiums on match day, so Vodacom Challenge tournament organisers have urged soccer fans to avoid disappointment by purchasing their tickets well in advance of match day at Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper and Computicket outlets nationwide at the affordable per ticket rates of R35 (East stand), R60 (North and South Stands) and R100 (Main grand stand). All tickets to the Derby in Port Elizabeth are on sale at just R35 each.

The financial input of title sponsor Vodacom and co-sponsors Absa, Macsteel and PEP Stores have made the affordable ticket pricing structure possible. Fifty seven percent of all tickets on sale fall into the lower price bracket of R35 per person.

Vodacom have come to the party with 50 000 sporty hats to be distributed to soccer fans who will be attending the Vodacom Challenge final at the Loftus stadium on Saturday, 28 July 2007.

Absa will also be distributing 20 000 beanies at the Vodacom Challenge Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at the EPRU stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, 26 July 2007.

PEP Stores have made available five vouchers per game worth R1000 each, for lucky supporters who are sitting in the correct seats on match days.

The KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government through the Department of Transport, have joined the Western Cape Provincial Government, Eastern Cape Provincial Government and Gauteng Provincial Government in going the extra mile to ensure that world class Vodacom Challenge soccer action will take place in their province.

Music stars L’vovo, DJ Siyanda, Durban’s Finest and DJ Cndo will be on hand to put the beat into the Vodacom Challenge in Durban on Saturday, 21 July 2007, while the Newlands stadium in Cape Town is set to come alive when DJ Ready D, DJ Slender, Glen Lewis and L’vovo, ahead of the big match kickoff on Tuesday, 24 July 2007.

Vodacom Challenge Derby fever will be taken to new levels on Thursday, 26 July 2007, when L’vovo, Zonke, DJ Monde and DJ Mzi, entertain the fans ahead of the clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

Artists performing at the Grand Finale at the Loftus stadium on Saturday, 28 July 2007, will include L’vovo, Trompies, HHP, DJ Black Coffee, DJ Zinhle, Oskido and DJ Cleo.

Over 1200 security personnel are to be deployed over the four venues to ensure an enjoyable, safe Vodacom Challenge Experience for all concerned. A large numbers of officials from the SA Police Services and emergency services will be on duty in the stadium precinct.

Over 100 stadium ushers will be on duty on match days to assist soccer fans to the correct seats, as displayed on their tickets. The KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government and Gauteng Provincial Government have made this possible at the matches in their respective provinces.

Event summary

21 July, Kaizer Chiefs vs Tottenham Hotspur, KwaZulu Natal (15h15 kickoff)

24 July, Orlando Pirates vs Tottenham Hotspur, Western Cape (20h35 kickoff)

26 July, Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs, Eastern Cape (20h35 kickoff)

28 July, Final Winner of 26 July match vs Tottenham Hotspur, Gauteng (15h15 kickoff)