2011 Vodacom Challenge

The Vodacom Challenge celebrated its 11th anniversary in 2011 with the English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur touring South Africa and playing against two local PSL clubs, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

2011 Vodacom Challenge
Teams3
Matches played4
Goals scored7 (1.75 per match)
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This is the second time that Tottenham Hotspur has taken part in the Vodacom Challenge.

Tournament history

Originally known as the Vodacom African Challenge, the competition was conceptualised and first played in 1999 as communications giant Vodacom sought to leverage their sponsorship of Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The first year of the competition saw two of the giants of the African continent invited to the pre-season tournament. ASEC Mimosa, the reigning African champions were joined by Tunisia's Espérance. Orlando Pirates walked away with the trophy after an emphatic 4-1 win over Espérance.

The 2000 tournament began on a sour note when Morocco's Raja Casablanca, the new African champions, withdrew as it was felt that their participation was in conflict with Morocco and South Africa's battle to win the right to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Power Dynamos of Zambia were added as a late replacement, joining Ivorians Africa Sport, who held the African Cup Winner's Cup. The final between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs failed to live up to pre-match expectations, although it did provide a fascinating battle in midfield. Kaizer Chiefs walked away 1–0 winners.

The 2001 Vodacom Challenge held special meaning for supporters from both Ghana and South Africa. Ghanaian clubs Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak were invited to play. The organizers dedicated the tournament to the 43 fans who had died at Ellis Park just a few months before, as well as the 126 people who perished at the Accra Sports Stadium during a match between Hearts and Kotoko just weeks before the Ellis Park tragedy. It was a sobering occasion for all, and a reminder that much was still to be done to ensure the safety of spectators across the continent. The final produced no goals and the match went to penalties with Kaizer Chiefs managing to retain the trophy they won the year before with a 3–2 win on penalties against Asante Kotoko.

Asante Kotoko returned for the 2002 event, where they were joined by Democratic Republic of the Congo outfit St Eloi Lupopo. The final was settled by a single spectacular goal from Musasa and Asante Kotoko became the first foreign side to lift the Vodacom Challenge trophy.

St Eloi Lupopo returned to defend their title in 2003 and were joined by compatriots TP Mazembe. Kaizer Chiefs claimed their third title in the final after winning 3–2 on penalties after a goalless match. It was after this tournament that TP Mazembe's Felix Musasa joined Pirates.

As had been the growing trend over the years, the 2004 Vodacom Challenge was dominated by shoot outs. TP Mazembe were back, this time joined by newcomers AS Vita. The final that pitted Kaizer Chiefs against AS Vita Club was disappointing until the dying minutes of the game when a goal from each side saw the match go to penalties. AS Vita went on to win the shoot-out 4–3.

Defending champions AS Vita and Green Buffaloes of Zambia were invited the next year and both fell at the first hurdle setting up a dream final between Pirates and Chiefs. The final in Durban was a cracking match that provided great entertainment for the expectant crowd. Pirates held on to claim their second trophy after a long six-year wait.

The 2006 edition saw a change in format with Chiefs and Pirates now taking on a European giant, as Manchester United was named to the competition. Chiefs and Pirates each took on United in an exhibition match followed by a derby clash to determine who would play the visiting team in the final. Kaizer Chiefs represented South Africa in the final and after a nail-biting penalty shoot out, Kaizer Chiefs raised the new-look trophy in glory.

Tottenham Hotspur, hoping to emulate Manchester United by visiting South Africa and winning the Premier League the next season, were the international team in 2007. Spurs played Pirates in the final and walked away with the Vodacom Challenge Final.

Manchester United returned in 2008 to avenge their loss to Kaizer Chiefs in 2006. In a hard-fought final, the Manchester United team with big names like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Carlos Tevez lifted the trophy and once again the Vodacom Challenge trophy travelled to distant shores.

The 2010 Vodacom Challenge was skipped, due to the 2010 World Cup being organised in South Africa, during the months of June and July.

Manchester City traveled to South Africa for the first time to be the third English Premier League club to take part in the Vodacom Challenge; City, however, lost to Kaizer Chiefs in the final.

Venues

Four cities served as the venues for the 2011 Vodacom Challenge.

Polokwane Johannesburg Port Elizabeth Nelspruit
Peter Mokaba Stadium Coca-Cola Park Stadium Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Mbombela Stadium
Capacity: 41,733 Capacity: 62,567 Capacity: 48,459 Capacity: 40,929

Tottenham Hotspur Squad for 2011 Vodacom Challenge

English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur announced on the 15 July 2011 that they will be bringing a full-strength squad to South Africa for the 11th anniversary of the Vodacom Challenge where they will tackle Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  BRA Heurelho Gomes
2 DF  SCO Alan Hutton
3 MF  WAL Gareth Bale
4 DF  FRA Younès Kaboul
5 MF  ENG David Bentley
6 MF  ENG Tom Huddlestone
7 MF  ENG Aaron Lennon
8 MF  ENG Jermaine Jenas
9 FW  RUS Roman Pavlyuchenko
10 FW  IRL Robbie Keane
11 MF  NED Rafael van der Vaart
12 MF  HON Wilson Palacios
14 MF  CRO Luka Modrić
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 FW  ENG Peter Crouch
16 DF  ENG Kyle Naughton
18 FW  ENG Jermain Defoe
19 DF  CMR Sébastien Bassong
20 DF  ENG Michael Dawson (captain)
21 MF  CRO Niko Kranjčar
22 DF  CRO Vedran Ćorluka
23 GK  ITA Carlo Cudicini
25 MF  ENG Danny Rose
24 GK  USA Brad Friedel
28 DF  ENG Kyle Walker
32 DF  CMR Benoît Assou-Ekotto
36 DF  RSA Bongani Khumalo
40 MF  RSA Steven Pienaar

Fixtures

First Round
Kaizer Chiefs 1 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur
Lebese  93' Report
Attendance: 41,733
KAIZER CHIEFS:
GK31Itumeleng Khune
RB2Jimmy Tau
CB5Dominic Isaacs 46'
CB3Thomas Sweswe
LB29Zhaimu Jambo
RM8Tinashe Nengomasha
CM6Reneilwe Letsholonyane 64'
CM9Josta Dladla 64'
LM14Siphiwe Tshabalala 64'
CF7Kaizer Motaung Junior 64'
CFLehlohonolo Majoro 64'
Substitutes:
DFTefu Mashamaite 64'
MF17George Lebese 64'  93'
MF10Mthokozisi Yende 64'
MF11Abia Nale 64'
FW21Knowledge Musona 64'
MF12Dominic Mateba 64'
GK30Kabelo Metsimetsi
Manager:
Vladimir Vermezović
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
GK23Carlo Cudicini
RB2Alan Hutton 46'
CB19Sébastien Bassong 74'
CB20Michael Dawson 46'
LB32Benoît Assou-Ekotto
RM5David Bentley 46'
CM6Tom Huddlestone 46'
CM8Jermaine Jenas
LM21Niko Kranjčar 46'
CF10Robbie Keane 46'
CF18Jermain Defoe 46'
Substitutions:
GKBrad Friedel
DF22Vedran Ćorluka 49'
DF36Bongani Khumalo 74'
DF4Younès Kaboul 46'
MF7Aaron Lennon 46'
MF11Rafael van der Vaart 46'
MF3Gareth Bale 46'
FW9Roman Pavlyuchenko 46'
FW15Peter Crouch 46'
DF16Kyle Naughton
Manager:
Harry Redknapp
Orlando Pirates 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Jele  40' Van der Vaart  17'
ORLANDO PIRATES:
GK1Senzo Meyiwa
RB4Happy Jele 63'  40'
CB14Lucky LekgwathiCaptain 63'
CB28Rooi Mahamutsa 46'
LB38Ruben Cloete
RM15Andile Jali 63'
CM20Oupa Manyisa
CM35Isaac Chansa 46'
LM23Tlou Segolela 78'
CF9Bongani Ndulula 75'
CF7Daine Klate 46'
Substitutes:
GK34Jacob Mokhasi
DFNjabulo Ntusi 63'
DF30Robyn Johannes 63'
DFSiyabonga Sangweni 46'
MF6Clifford Ngobeni 63'
MF12Mark Mayambela 46'
MFRudolf Bester 78'
FW26Ndumiso Mabena 75'
FWSameehg Doutie 46'
Manager:
Júlio Leal
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
GKBrad Friedel
RB16Kyle Naughton 46'
CB4Younès Kaboul 46'
CB36Bongani Khumalo
LB25Danny Rose
RM5David Bentley 46'
CM14Luka Modrić 58'
CM12Wilson Palacios 46'
LM3Gareth Bale 58'
CF11Rafael van der Vaart 46'
CF18Jermain Defoe 46'
Substitutions:
GK23Carlo Cudicini
DF28Kyle Walker 46'
DF20Michael Dawson 46'
MF7Aaron Lennon 46'
MF21Niko Kranjčar 58'
DF22Vedran Ćorluka 46'
MF8Jermaine Jenas 58'
MF10Robbie Keane 46'
FW9Roman Pavlyuchenko 46'
Manager:
Harry Redknapp

Soweto Derby
Kaizer Chiefs 0–1 Orlando Pirates
Segolela  59'
Attendance: 43 000
KAIZER CHIEFS:
GK31Itumeleng Khune
RB2Jimmy Tau
CB5Dominic Isaacs
CB3Thomas Sweswe 62'
LB29Zhaimu Jambo 62'
RM8Tinashe Nengomasha
CM6Reneilwe Letsholonyane
CM9Josta Dladla
LM14Siphiwe Tshabalala 46'
CF21Knowledge Musona 76'
CF20Lehlohonolo Majoro 46'
Substitutes:
DF4Tefu Mashamaite 62'
DF13Keegan Richie 62'
MF10Mthokozisi Yende 46'
MF11Abia Nale 46'
FW7Kaizer Motaung Junior 64'
MF22Mandla Masango 46'
GK26Lucky Khune 76'
Manager:
Vladimir Vermezović
ORLANDO PIRATES:
GK1Senzo Meyiwa
RB4Happy Jele
CB21Siyabonga Sangweni
CB14Lucky Lekgwathi
LB38Ruben Cloete
RM23Tlou Segolele 83'  59'
CM20Oupa Manyisa
CM15Andile Jali
LM7Daine Klate 75'
CF12Mark Mayambela 58'
CF9Bongani Ndulula 65'
Substitutions:
MF5Dikgang Mabalane 75'
MF6Clifford Ngobeni 83'
FW11Sameehg Doutie 65'
DF18Thulasizwe Mbuyane 58'
Manager:
Júlio Leal

Final
Orlando Pirates 0–3 Tottenham Hotspur
Van der Vaart  35', 53'
Defoe  87'
ORLANDO PIRATES:
GK1Senzo Meyiwa
RB4Happy Jele
CB14Lucky Lekgwathi (C) 63'
CBSiyabonga Sangweni 63'
LB38Ruben Cloete 69'
RMThulasizwe Mbuyane 46'
CM20Oupa Manyisa
CM15Andile Jali 80'
LM7Daine Klate 63'
CF9Bongani Ndulula 87'
CF23Tlou Segolela 62'
Substitutes:
DF28Rooi Mahamutsa 63'
DF30Robyn Johannes 63'
DF32Lucas Thwala 69'
MF11Sameegh Doutie 46'
MF6Clifford Ngobeni 80'
MF25Rudolf Bester 63'
FW26Ndumiso Mabena 87'
FW12Mark Mayambela 62'
Manager:
Júlio Leal
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
GK1Heurelho Gomes
RB28Kyle Walker 46'
CB19Sébastien Bassong
CB36Bongani Khumalo
LB32Benoît Assou-Ekotto
RM7Aaron Lennon 60'
CM14Luka Modrić 70'
CM6Tom Huddlestone 46'
LM30Steven Pienaar 46'
CF11Rafael van der Vaart
CF18Peter Crouch 46'
Substitutions:
DF2Alan Hutton 46'
MF9Roman Pavlyuchenko 60'
MF3Gareth Bale 70'
MF12Wilson Palacios 46'
MF21Niko Kranjčar 46'
FW18Jermain Defoe 46'
Manager:
Harry Redknapp


2011 Vodacom Challenge
CHAMPIONS
Tottenham Hotspur
2nd title
gollark: Wait, I can just ban you.
gollark: APIOHAZARD YOU ALL
gollark: DO I NEED SENTIMENT ANALYSIS NEURAL NETWORKS OR SOMETHING
gollark: OH SERIOUSLY
gollark: 97 is equal to 105 with an 8 margin of error.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-07-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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