Kaizer Chiefs will be one of the eight top clubs from six continents to contest the Fifa sanctioned World Peace King Cup to be held in South Korea in July. The tournaments aim is to fight for world peace and poverty eradication in third world countries.

When organising committee chairman Kwak Chung Hwan announced the eight teams in Seoul on

Wednesday, there were a few surprises. Neither Liverpool nor their English Premiership rivals

Manchester United were on list, as had earlier been expected.

Italian side AS Roma, Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven, Olympique Lyonnais from France, German

side Bayer Leverkusen, LA Galaxy from the United States, Sao Paulo from Brazil, African

Club of the Year 2001/2002 Kaizer Chiefs and South Korean champions Seongnam Iihwa will

fight it out for the $2 million first prize at stake. Runners up will pocket $500 000.

“The launch was very exciting and professional,” said Chiefs' team manager Bobby Motaung, “and the

prize money is also a big incentive and motivation for players. However, our participation

in this event is not about the money but the prestige and an honour that comes with being

selected for the tournament. We hope to do Africa proud.”

The tournament, which will carry the message of world peace while raising funds for

impoverished countries, takes place from July 15 until July 22 and will be staged at

six world cup venues.

The organisers stressed that the eight were selected on merit and that they would lay a

strong foundation for this event, one that will take place every two years in different

countries. The draw was not part of the agenda - this will only take place between

March and April in South Korea.

“We had to look at the top 15 clubs around the world and it was not easy as many are

currently busy with their own programmes,” said Brazilian legend Pele. “As you know Santos

is my team and I would have loved to bring them here, but Sao Paulo are currently the best

team in Brazil and we had to select them.”

Chung Hwan said the tournament, which has the approval of football's controlling

body Fifa, was the first of its kind and added that he hoped it would

continue carry on with the excitement and sensation brought about by the 2002 World Cup

that was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

The venue for future events will also move from country to country and the organisers said

they would sit to decide on the participating teams prior to the tournament. “It is

promising to know that the next Peace Cup venue will be decided on a bidding system and it

will be in South Africa’s interest to bid. After all we are the epitome of peace,” said

Amakhosi brand manager Emy Casaletti-Page.