As the excitement of the Vodacom Challenge finals buils up, so is the tension in the participating teams' camps. African champions Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, arrived in Durban on Sunday afternoon and Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs a day later.

As decided on Saturday after the results of the first leg in Bafokeng, Chiefs will face Kotoko in the final at 15:00 while Pirates and Hearts will fight for a third-place in an earlier kick-off at 12:05. Both matches will take place in Durban on Sunday at the Absa Park.

"This year’s event is epitomized by the slogan ‘the healing process’ due to the tragic stadium disasters experienced in South Africa and Ghana recently. As such the tournament embraces ‘safety and security’ as part of its social responsibility programme,” said Putco Mafani, tournament spokesperson.

In so doing the four teams will be visiting various police stations in and around Durban on Wednesday and Friday afternoon. The first police station to be visited will be in Kwadabeka followed by a visit to KwaMashu, a station earmarked by president Thanbo Mbeki as part of his urban renewal programme.

On Friday afternoon the Durban Central Police Station will also be visited.

The key messages being promoted by the four teams are as follows:

Soccer is a powerful medium to communicate the prevention of crime.

Criminals are a minority . . . don’t let them rule our country.

Soccer lovers respect the law . . . don’t do crime.

Criminals aren’t cool.

Do crime . . . and you do time!

Stolen goods may have someone else’s blood on them!

Support the police so that they can support you.

The teams hope that in endorsing these messages soccer shall have made a meaningful contribution towards the reduction of crime in South Africa.

Tickets for Sunday’s matches are available at Ticketweb nationwide and are selling fast. "We plead to the supporters to purchase their tickets early to avoid disappointments. Last year’s tickets for the finals were sold out two days before the event,” said tournament director Emy Casaletti-Page.

For further information contact:


Putco Mafani on 082 991 0977 or Thabiso Parkies on 082 992 1955