July 12, 2006
By Anish Abraham
THE 2006 Fifa World Cup may have come and gone, but South African soccer lovers are still in for a treat with Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs set to take on English glamour club Manchester United in the three-way 2006 Vodacom Challenge, from 15 to 22 July.
The tournament, which previously pitted the two local soccer giants against clubs from other parts of the continent, will feature matches in four provinces with the final being held at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria. It also provides the country with an opportunity to start preparations for 2010.
Local fans will have to travel to various venues out of the city to support their teams.
The first match of the tournament is on 15 July at 3pm, and will see Orlando Pirates take on Manchester United at Absa Stadium in Durban, followed by Kaizer Chiefs versus Manchester United at Newlands in Cape Town on 18 July at 8pm.
In a dress rehearsal of several titanic clashes to come in the new season, the two Soweto giants will take each other on at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace near Rustenburg for a place in the final with Manchester United.
The match at Loftus will take place on Saturday, 22 July, at 3pm.
Rehearsal for 2010
According to event organisers and promoters, SAIL, "the 2006 Vodacom Challenge will mark the start of South Africa's build-up to hosting the Fifa 2010 World Cup, and a comprehensive safety and security plan will be enforced to ensure that soccer supporters are in a safe people-friendly environment".
The tournament will be used to start testing possible security measures for 2010. Security personnel at the games will be armed with magnetometers, similar to those used at airports. This will also be a standard during the 2010 games.
The tournament organisers have advised fans to buy tickets from Computicket or selected Shoprite Checkers ticket points, as tickets will not be sold at the stadia.
Another feature being introduced is the reserved seating only policy, a standard requirement at Fifa championships. This means that seat, block and stand are printed on individuals' tickets. Fans should ensure they are not sitting in the wrong places.
To prevent excess congestion at stadium entry points, the organisers are advising spectators to arrive at least two hours before the scheduled kick-off time. To make it worthwhile, organisers will stage pre-match entertainment for up to four hours before kick-off.
Food and cold drinks will be on sale at vendor points both inside and outside the stadia on match day, but no alcohol will be permitted, and no alcoholic drinks will be sold within stadium precincts.
Tickets for the matches featuring Manchester United range from R55 to R350, depending on seating location, while all tickets for the match between Pirates and Chiefs in Rustenburg will cost R55.
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