Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs, as well as Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates, will be put the test by English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur in this year’s Vodacom Challenge, as announced today in a press conference held at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni.

Spurs finished fifth in the Premiership this season and also reached the quarterfinals of the Uefa Cup and FA Cup, as well as the semifinals of the league cup.

They boast some top class internationals including Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Africans Hossam Ghaly and Didier Zokora.

This is Tottenham’s third visit to South Africa. Their first was in 1963 while just four years ago the team toured this country in their pre-season preparations, defeating Chiefs 2-0 before losing 2-1 to Pirates.

Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung said that the Amakhosi will be striving to retain their Vodacom Challenge title.

“The Vodacom Challenge is the perfect platform for SA’s rising talent to pit their skills against some of the best teams in the world, and we look forward to seeing many a rising star taking advantage of this opportunity to make their mark at the highest level in this year’s tournament,” said Motaung.

Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy, commenting on the club’s participation in the Vodacom Challenge, said: “We are delighted to have been invited to take part in the Vodacom Challenge.

“We have a massive support base in South Africa which has been growing since our success in the 1960s and we continue to enjoy an affinity with the country where we were made to feel so welcome during our 2003 pre-season tour.

“The club’s support of the SOS Children’s Village for orphaned and abandoned children in Rustenburg serves to further strengthen out existing excellent relationship with this wonderful country.”

Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge will go on sale at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers outlets nationwide from June 12.

Numbered tickets will be on sale at the following rates: R35 (East stand), R60 (North and South stands) and R100 main grand stand.

All tickets to derby in Port Elizabeth will go on sale at just R35 each.

Vodacom Challenge Schedule:

21 July, 2007: Kaizer Chiefs v Tottenham Hotspur, Kwazulu Natal


24 July, 2007: Orlando Pirates v Tottenham Hotspur, Western Cape


26 July, 2007: Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs, Eastern Cape


28 July, 2007: Winner of July 26 match v Tottenham Hotspur, Gauteng