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Johannesburg - The Vodacom Challenge, featuring South Africa’s Vodacom sponsored Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs and overseas invitational team, Tottenham Hotspur, has proved a huge success.
Figures reveal that the opening game between Chiefs and Spurs was watched by an average of over 4,000,000 fans - equating to nearly 50% of the total TV audience market share.
At its peak, the contest was watched by 5.5 million South African fans.
Created in 1999 by sport and entertainment group Sail, the tri-series event again attracted Barclays Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur, who returned this year for their third visit to the country.
Sail executive and Vodacom Challenge tournament director Jabu Mathibela said: “The fact that the match between Chiefs and Spurs achieved a 29% higher share of the market than normal programming during the same timeslot is evidence that the style of football is something special”.
“With Chiefs winning this match and Pirates drawing the second, every single football lover in the country is on the edge of his seat to see who will take the final on 23 July at Coca-Cola Park.”
“Our ticket sales have been superb, as has our online activity and we predict that with tomorrow’s PE Derby, we will record another sell out both in terms of television viewing and hospitality.”
The competition will draw to a close on Saturday, with the final against Spurs in Johannesburg.
Mathibela added: “On behalf of Sail, I would like to thank the tournament sponsors: Vodacom, Daily Sun, Pep, Gauteng Provincial Government, Limpopo Government, Mbombela Government, South Africa.net, Eastern Cape Provincial Government, PRASA, SABC Sport and Avis.”
“Rest assured that without you, this tournament would not have achieved its success to date.”
Orlando Pirates v Spurs (Gallo Images)
Figures reveal that the opening game between Chiefs and Spurs was watched by an average of over 4,000,000 fans - equating to nearly 50% of the total TV audience market share.
At its peak, the contest was watched by 5.5 million South African fans.
Created in 1999 by sport and entertainment group Sail, the tri-series event again attracted Barclays Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur, who returned this year for their third visit to the country.
Sail executive and Vodacom Challenge tournament director Jabu Mathibela said: “The fact that the match between Chiefs and Spurs achieved a 29% higher share of the market than normal programming during the same timeslot is evidence that the style of football is something special”.
“With Chiefs winning this match and Pirates drawing the second, every single football lover in the country is on the edge of his seat to see who will take the final on 23 July at Coca-Cola Park.”
“Our ticket sales have been superb, as has our online activity and we predict that with tomorrow’s PE Derby, we will record another sell out both in terms of television viewing and hospitality.”
The competition will draw to a close on Saturday, with the final against Spurs in Johannesburg.
Mathibela added: “On behalf of Sail, I would like to thank the tournament sponsors: Vodacom, Daily Sun, Pep, Gauteng Provincial Government, Limpopo Government, Mbombela Government, South Africa.net, Eastern Cape Provincial Government, PRASA, SABC Sport and Avis.”
“Rest assured that without you, this tournament would not have achieved its success to date.”
Orlando Pirates v Spurs (Gallo Images)
