South Africa
United for sale: On tour with the champions’ circus, July 2008
With eye-watering debts, the Premier League goliaths are wearily peddling their star names to crack new markets…only to find children in South African townships wearing fake kit, with no cash for match-tickets – and wooed by rivals they can see on TV for free. The Mail on Sunday went on the road with Manchester United’s travelling circus in South Africa.
In an African township, Roto Seleke, 11, kicks a ball around in the dirt. He is a wearing a fake Manchester United kit
Wayne Rooney, from Manchester United, signs autographs for young fans after a pre match practise at Loftus Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa in July, 2008. Manchester United are taking part in the Vodacom Challenge series being held in South Africa and is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).- A face painter paints Manchester United logos onto fans faces before the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Manchester United supporters arrive at the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Manchester United supporters arrive at the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Manchester United supporters arrive at the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Manchester United supporters arrive at the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Fans cheer as Manchester United score their only goal, during the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Fans cheer, with Table Mountain in the background, as Manchester United score their only goal during the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Gary Neville, the captain of Manchester United, talks to a young fan, fan who was given the opportunity to meet the team at their hotel, the day after the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 20 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Danny Simpson, defender for Manchester United, signs autographs the day after the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 20 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- A young Manchester United fan watches through the barricade at a training practise of the team, at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, South African on the 18th July, 2008. Manchester United are taking part for the second time in the Vodacom Challenge in South Africa, and are the only non African team to play.
- Fraizer Campbell, from Manchester United signs autographs after a training session of the Manchester United team in Cape Town, South Africa 18 July 2008. Manchester United play the South African club team Kaizer Chiefs 19 July 2008 in the first game of the Vodacom Challenge series between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
- The Cape Sun newspaper advertises the arrival of Manchester United to Cape Town, during the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Fans in Cape Town were offered the chance to win a signed Manchester United T shirt by hundreds of sales girls before the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Manchester United supporters arrive at the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Michael Carrick and Ben Foster of Manchester United, the defending champions, hold up the trophies to be contended at the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Carlos Tevez from Manchester United during the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 19 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Carlos Tevez from Manchester United, signs the shirt of a young fan who was given the opportunity to visit the team in their hotel the day after the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 20 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Michael Carrick signs Manchester United items for fans in a sports shop in a shopping centre in Cape Town, the day after the opening game of the Vodacom Challenge series in Cape Town, South Africa 20 July 2008. The Vodacom Challenge series is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Young boys practise football in a public football ground wearing fake Manchester United merchandise, on 22nd July, 2008 in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Young boys practise football in a public football ground wearing fake Manchester United merchandise, on 22nd July, 2008 in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Ryan Giggs, Manchester United's longest serving player, autographs T Shirts for fans after a pre match practise at Loftus Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa on 20th July, 2008. Manchester United are taking part in the Vodacom Challenge series being held in South Africa and is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Ryan Giggs, Manchester United's longest serving player, autographs T Shirts for fans after a pre match practise at Loftus Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa on 20th July, 2008. Manchester United are taking part in the Vodacom Challenge series being held in South Africa and is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Tomasz Kuszczak, Goalkeeper for Manchester United, signs T Shirts for fans outside Vodaworld, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 20th July, 2008.
- Ryan Giggs from Manchester United signs autographs for fans outside Vodaworld, in Johannesburg South Africa on 20th July, 2008. Manchester United are taking part in the Vodacom Challenge series being held in South Africa and is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
- Ryan Giggs from Manchester United, talks to Richard, a blind boy, from a project that is being supported by Manchester United, at a CSI (Corporate Social Initiative) event, at Vodaworld, Johannesburg on 20th July, 2008. Manchester United are taking part in the Vodacom Challenge series being held in South Africa and is between Manchester United (United Kingdom) Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) and Orlando Pirates (South Africa).
