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Spurs pre-season tour of South Africa
Spurs Odyssey has received these details from the "Spursfans.co.za" web site regarding the forthcoming tour of South Africa. Spurs Odyssey readers can look forward to some exclusive reports from the tour in due course!
Hello all Spurs fans! This is for those based in South Africa and those travelling here for the Tottenham Tour in July. Spursfans.co.za in partnership with South Africa's Official THFC Supporters' Club have been asked to act as liaison with Tottenham fans. We will have all the information on tickets, group bookings, opportunities to meet the team and fan get- togethers. Come and register if you are keen. Details of the tour follow...
The Vodacom Challenge invites Tottenham back this year after 4 years absence. The original idea had been to bring out a new team but Tottenham had the enthusiasm to visit the Dark Continent again. Thankfully we have the lights on these days.
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have both given good games to the foreign teams coming over. There will be no easy rides. Kaizer Chiefs are the defending Champions of the Challenge and Orlando Pirates won when Spurs were out last with Glen Hoddle.
That 2003 trip found Spurs the talent of Mabizela who, unfortunately, did not adapt to his new life in the UK and his inability to break into the Spurs team immediately and slowly deteriorated, eventually serving a ban for drug abuses (after he had left Spurs). He has since kicked his addiction and after a stint in Norway now plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa under Gordon Igesund after winning the Norwegian League with Steffen Iversen in 2005.
"Boasting players of the calibre of inspirational team captain and defender Ledley King, Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, England internationals in striker Jermain Defoe, winger Aaron Lennon, midfielder Danny Murphy and goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and the likes of Ivory Coast midfielder Didier Zokara, Egyptian international striker Ahmed Hossam and Bulgarian international goal-getter Dimitar Berbatov, Dutch team manager Martin Jol is spoilt for choice in picking his starting line up. (Ed:- Availability and transfers allowing!)
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The Vodacom Challenge schedule will open with Tottenham Hotspur playing Kaizer Chiefs at the Absa stadium in Durban on Saturday, July 21, with the Amakhosi, on a mission to level matters after losing 2-0 to the English club, who toured SA back in 2003.(Read the report here)
Tottenham Hotspur will in turn attempt to set the record straight, when they take on Orlando Pirates at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday, July 24.
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Orlando Pirates beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, during the English club’s pre-season tour of South Africa back in 2003. (Read the report here) Steve Lekoelea’s curling free-kick and a penalty slotted home by the late Lesley Manyathela, gave Orlando Pirates the victory on the day.
This is all followed by a derby between the two SA teams in Port Elizabeth, the winner of which will take on Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Vodacom Challenge at Loftus stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng, on Saturday, July 28.
Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge will go on sale at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers outlets nationwide from June 12 at the affordable per ticket rates of R35 (East stand), R60 (North and South Stands) and R100 (Main grand stand).
Tickets for the Vodacom Challenge derby will be on sale at R35 each.
21 July, Kaizer Chiefs vs Tottenham Hotspur, Kwazulu Natal
24 July, Orlando Pirates vs Tottenham Hotspur, Western Cape
26 July, Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs, Eastern Cape (Derby)
28 July, Winner of 26 July match vs Tottenham Hotspur, Gauteng
Spursfans.co.za - a place for South African Spurs fans to meet.
Kevin Marshall of Spursfans.co.za has offered the following additional information for those based in or travelling to South Africa:-
It is unlikely that we will know about opportunities to meet the fans more than 2 weeks in advance. I have secured press accreditation and am in contact with the promoters and logistics people so I should get information in as it happens.
If there is anyone out there with a high quality video camera who wishes to volunteer for Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban to cover press conferences and so on please let me know. It is an opportunity to get close to the team and should increase your chances of meeting them.
First come first serve and I will take one backup in each city in case someone lets me down.
International fans are having problems with computicket (booking opens June 12th) as they are not accepting overseas credit cards over the phone. We at spursfans, the organisers, local supporters club and Tottenham Hotspur are working together to try and find a solution.
Don't forget to keep watching the site for information on group bookings.
Spurs have signed another promising youngster with a left foot- it looks like the club are keen for a long-term solution to the ever pervasive left-side issue. Also Martin Jol has made his first commitment speech. I am sure it was designed to keep stars like Berbatov happy. Jol wants to be competing for the title in 2 years. Not necessarily winning it but we have to believe that means Champions league and putting the wind up the Gooners. Great stuff.
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