2009 Vodacom Challenge
# 2009 Vodacom Challenge

The Vodacom Challenge celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009 with the English Premier League side Manchester City touring South Africa and playing against two local PSL clubs, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Kaizer Chiefs defeated star-studded Manchester City in the final to lift the title.

This was the first time that Manchester City had 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 started 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 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 DRC 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.

2006 saw a change in format with Chiefs and Pirates now taking on a European giant. Manchester United was named as the competition. Chiefs and Pirates each took on Man 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 Rooney, Ferdinand and Tevez lifted the trophy and once again the Vodacom Challenge trophy travelled to distant shores.

## Vodacom Challenge 2010

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

## Venues

Four cities served as the venues for the 2009 Vodacom Challenge.

| Polokwane | Durban | Port Elizabeth | Tshwane |
| - | - | - | - |
| Peter Mokaba Stadium | Absa Stadium | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | Loftus Versfeld Stadium |
| Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 55,000.4 | Capacity: 48,000 | Capacity: 51,762 |

## Manchester City Squad for 2009 Vodacom Challenge

Premier League team Manchester City announced on 15 July 2009 that they will be bringing a full-strength squad to South Africa for the 10th anniversary of the Vodacom Challenge where they will tackle Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

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 | IRL | Shay Given |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Micah Richards |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Wayne Bridge |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Nedum Onuoha |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Michael Johnson |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Stephen Ireland |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Shaun Wright-Phillips |
| 9 | FW | BUL | Valeri Bojinov |
| 10 | FW | BRA | Robinho * |
| 11 | MF | BRA | Elano * |
| 12 | GK | ENG | Stuart Taylor |
| 14 | FW | PAR | Roque Santa Cruz |
| 15 | DF | ESP | Javier Garrido |
| 16 | GK | DEN | Kasper Schmeichel |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | MF | BUL | Martin Petrov |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Gareth Barry |
| 20 | FW | ECU | Felipe Caicedo |
| 22 | DF | IRL | Richard Dunne (captain) |
| 24 | FW | WAL | Ched Evans |
| 25 | FW | TOG | Emmanuel Adebayor * |
| 26 | DF | ISR | Tal Ben Haim |
| 27 | FW | ZIM | Benjani |
| 29 | MF | NGA | Kelvin Etuhu |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Shaleum Logan |
| 32 | FW | ARG | Carlos Tevez |
| 33 | MF | BEL | Vincent Kompany |
| 34 | MF | NED | Nigel de Jong |
| 39 | FW | WAL | Craig Bellamy |
| 40 | MF | SVK | Vladimír Weiss |

* * Will only be available for the final on July 25.

## Fixtures

### First round

| ORLANDO PIRATES: ||
| - | - |
| GK | 16 | Moneed Josephs |
| RB | 38 | Zvenyika Makonese |
| CB | 3 | Kiaku | | 46' |
| CB | 28 | Rooi Mahamutsa |
| LB | 32 | Lucas Thwala | 41' |
| RM | 14 | Lucky Lekgwathi |
| CM | 36 | Oupa Manyisa | | 48' |
| CM | 5 | Dikgang Mabalane |
| LM | 42 | Bennet Chenene | | 49' |
| CF | 25 | Rudzani Ramudzuli | | 46' |
| CF | 40 | Promise Mthembu | | 64' |
| | | Substitutes: | Substitutes: | Substitutes: |
| MF | 24 | Joseph Makhanya |
| | 7 | Joseph Kamwendo | 49' |
| MF | 12 | Thembile Kanono | 46' | 90' |
| CF | 15 | Irvin Mhlambi | 46' |
| | 9 | Destin Nakica |
| MF | 20 | Reason Chiloane | 64' |
| GK | 1 | Senzo Meyiwa |
| CF | 8 | Phenyo Mogale | 48' 56' |
| DF | 17 | Lehlohonolo Seema |
| Manager: |||
| Ruud Krol ||||
| MANCHESTER CITY: ||
| GK | 12 | Stuart Taylor |
| RB | 5 | Pablo Zabaleta |
| CB | 26 | Tal Ben Haim |
| CB | 15 | Javier Garrido |
| LB | 40 | Vladimír Weiss |
| RM | 7 | Stephen Ireland | | 69' |
| CM | 41 | Ben Mee |
| CM | 6 | Michael Johnson |
| LM | 17 | Martin Petrov | 45' |
| CF | 9 | Valeri Bojinov | | 69' |
| CF | 39 | Craig Bellamy | 45' | 47' |
| | | Substitutions: | Substitutions: |
| GK | 37 | Shay Given |
| DF | 50 | Ryan McGivern |
| MF | 34 | Nigel de Jong | 69' |
| CF | 20 | Felipe Caicedo | 69' |
| AM | 8 | Shaun Wright-Phillips |
| MF | 18 | Gareth Barry |
| CF | 27 | Benjani | 47' |
| MF | 36 | Javan Vidal |
| Manager: |||
| Mark Hughes ||||
| KAIZER CHIEFS: ||
| GK | 32 | Itumeleng Khune |
| RB | 20 | Tshifiwa Mmbooi |
| CB | 31 | Punch Masenamela |
| CB | 13 | Valery Nahayo | 86' |
| LB | 3 | Langu Sweswe |
| RM | 8 | Tinashe Nengomasha |
| CM | 22 | Mandla Masango | 69' |
| CM | 6 | Reneilwe Letsholonyane | 65' |
| LM | 24 | David Mathebula |
| CF | 11 | Abia Nale | 54' |
| CF | 7 | Kaizer Motaung Junior |
| | | Substitutes: | Substitutes: |
| GK | 16 | Thela Ngobeni |
| DF | 77 | José Torrealba |
| MF | 17 | George Lebese |
| DF | 29 | Zhiamu Jambo |
| | 28 | Lawrence Molekwane |
| MF | 18 | Arthur Zwane |
| DF | 4 | Elliot Rooi |
| MF | 9 | Josta Dladla | 65' |
| CF | 23 | Tshepo Bulu |
| CF | 10 | Mthokozisi Yende | 54' |
| MF | 27 | Gerald Sibeko |
| CF | 21 | Knowledge Musona | 69' |
| CF | 19 | Nkosinathi Nhleko |
| MF | 33 | Jeffrey Ntuka | 86' |
| GK | 30 | Abel Metsimetsi |
| Manager: |||
| Vladimir Vermezović ||||
| MANCHESTER CITY: ||
| GK | 12 | Stuart Taylor |
| RB | 5 | Pablo Zabaleta |
| CB | 41 | Ben Mee |
| CB | 50 | Ryan McGivern |
| LB | 3 | Wayne Bridge | | 71' |
| RM | 8 | Shaun Wright-Phillips | | 82' |
| CM | 34 | Nigel de Jong |
| CM | 18 | Gareth Barry | 54' | 63' |
| LM | 29 | Kelvin Etuhu |
| CF | 7 | Stephen Ireland | | 46' | 45' |
| CF | 20 | Felipe Caicedo | 44' | 46' |
| | | Substitutions: | Substitutions: | Substitutions: |
| GK | 37 | Shay Given |
| MF | 36 | Javan Vidal | 63' |
| DF | 15 | Javier Garrido | 71' |
| AM | 17 | Martin Petrov | 46' |
| MF | 40 | Vladimír Weiss | 82' |
| CF | 27 | Benjani | 46' | 90' |
| CF | 9 | Valeri Bojinov | 90' |
| Manager: |||
| Mark Hughes ||||

### Soweto Derby

| ORLANDO PIRATES: ||
| - | - |
| GK | 16 | Moneed Josephs |
| RB | 28 | Rooi Mahamutsa |
| CB | 19 | Innocent Mdledle |
| CB | 32 | Lucas Thwala |
| LB | 17 | Lehlohonolo Seema |
| RM | 5 | Dikgang Mabalane |
| CM | 7 | Joseph Kamwendo | 30' | 75' |
| CM | 3 | Kiaku | 34' | 56' |
| LM | 21 | Katlego Mashego | | 80' |
| CF | 15 | Irvin Mhlambi | | 62' |
| CF | 12 | Phenyo Mogale |
| | | Substitutes: | Substitutes: |
| GK | 29 | Robert Modiadie |
| MF | 14 | Lucky Lekgwathi |
| MF | 2 | Benson Mhlongo | 56' |
| DF | 38 | Zvenyika Makonese |
| | 9 | Destin Nakica |
| MF | 36 | Oupa Manyisa | 75' |
| | 11 | Tsholofelo Modise | 62' |
| MF | 24 | Joseph Makhanya |
| MF | 30 | Lebogang Mothibantwa |
| MF | 42 | Bennet Chenene | 80' |
| | 8 | Andile Jali |
| MF | 40 | Promise Mthembu |
| Manager: |||
| Ruud Krol ||||
| KAIZER CHIEFS: ||
| GK | 32 | Itumeleng Khune |
| RB | 31 | Punch Masenamela |
| CB | 28 | Lawrence Molekwane |
| CB | 3 | Langu Sweswe | | 74' |
| LB | 33 | Jeffrey Ntuka |
| RM | 6 | Reneilwe Letsholonyane | | 53' |
| CM | 22 | Mandla Masango | | 88' |
| CM | 24 | David Mathebula |
| LM | 9 | Josta Dladla | 10' |
| CF | 11 | Abia Nale |
| CF | 21 | Knowledge Musona | | 60' |
| | | Substitutes: | Substitutes: |
| GK | 16 | Thela Ngobeni |
| DF | 20 | Tshifiwa Mmbooi |
| DF | 29 | Zhiamu Jambo |
| DF | 4 | Elliot Rooi | 74' |
| MF | 8 | Tinashe Nengomasha |
| MF | 27 | Gerald Sibeko | 53' |
| MF | 17 | George Lebese |
| MF | 18 | Arthur Zwane | 88' |
| CF | 10 | Mthokozisi Yende |
| CF | 23 | Tshepo Bulu |
| CF | 77 | José Torrealba | 60' |
| CF | 19 | Nkosinathi Nhleko |
| GK | 30 | Abel Metsimetsi |
| Manager: |||
| Vladimir Vermezović ||||

### Final

* Vodacom Challenge 2009 Winners
* Kaizer Chiefs
* 5th Title
