Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates will entertain newcomers Green Buffaloes of Zambia in the second semifinal at the same venue.

Premier Soccer League clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will be out in force to see off the on-field onslaughts of defending champions A.S. Vita Club and Zambian side Green Buffaloes FC, when Vodacom Challenge fever takes the Rainbow Nation by storm.

Mmabatho Stadium, Mafikeng in the North West Province, is expected to be filled to capacity when the semi-finals are played on Sunday, July 17 (with matches starting at 12h15 and 15h15) with the third/fourth playoff match (12h15 kickoff) and the spectacular final showdown (15h15 kickoff) set to take place at Absa Stadium, Durban, on Sunday, July 24.

With a first prize of R1 million up for grabs, the clubs set to compete in this year’s Vodacom Challenge will showcase football skills of the highest order. The runners-up will take home R500 000 while the third and fourth placed teams will collect R300 000 and R200 000 respectively.

Vodacom Group, Chief Communications Officer Mthobi Tyamzashe said that Vodacom is committed towards ensuring a bright future for the Beautiful Game in SA. The Vodacom Challenge, our biggest soccer spectacular, allows for SA football to continue building relations with other African countries and football teams, further enhancing brotherhood and comradeship in African football, as SA continues to prepare to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup for our wonderful continent.

“Vodacom, the greatest supporter of South African supporters, describes our dedication towards allowing the people of SA to share in the passion of the Beautiful Game that is a part of everyday life for SA football fans,” said Tyamzashe.

“Through Vodacom’s sponsorship of football events such as the prestigious Vodacom Challenge, the Vodacom League, the Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) under 20 tournament and the Yebo Bolo Road Shows, as well as being official team sponsors of the Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana, the Amajita under 20 team, PSL clubs Pirates, Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic, SA football fans are given an opportunity to be part of the ultimate Vodacom Football Experience.”

“Our best wishes go to all the participating teams as they prepare to lace up their boots for action-packed Yebo Bolo flair,” added Tyamzashe.

Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza described the 7th edition of the Vodacom Challenge as being potentially the toughest event in its history, and said that his club will be ready to do battle to ensure that the Kudu Horn trophy will return and remain on South African soil for the next 12 months.

“At Pirates, we welcome the challenge from the visiting African teams,” said Dr Khoza.

PSL champions and three-time Vodacom Challenge winners Chiefs will join Pirates in the Kudu Horn Trophy hunt. Chiefs MD Kaizer Motaung described last season’s pulsating PSL title race against Pirates, as character building.

“Chiefs players showed great character in rising from the bottom to catch and surpass Pirates in one of the most exciting PSL title races in recent times. This form of never-say-die attitude is what will be carried through in my team’s effort to lift the Kudu Horn trophy,” said Motaung.

Vodacom’s commitment to the supporters in this year’s Vodacom Challenge is set to be nothing short of spectacular. The Vodacom Challenge has always been synonymous with great entertainment, awesome give-aways and fantastic competitions and this year, we will be going bigger and better.

Vodacom will be rewarding loyal supporters by offering them a chance to win one of eleven Nissan 1400 bakkies. Supporters have an opportunity to test their knowledge, all they have to do is SMS “Vodacom Challenge” to 33450 (costs R150 per SMS). They will then receive a Vodacom Challenge related question and if they answer correctly, they stand a chance of driving away in style.

Vodacom is renowned for providing fabulous promotional item give-aways which encourage football fans to get to the stadiums early to be a part of the Big Match Build Up and SA’s leading cellular network will soon announce plans that will make the Vodacom Experience for early arrivers at the stadium that much more special.