SEVENTY-SIX clubs have registered to take part in the yearly Orlando Pirates seven-a-side Corporate Challenge in Johannesburg on October 25.

SEVENTY-SIX clubs have registered to take part in the yearly Orlando Pirates seven-a-side Corporate Challenge in Johannesburg on October 25.

Mahlaku Nkuna, the tournament's coordinator, said they were hoping to get 120 teams to battle it out in the eighth instalment of the event.

"All signs are that the tournament will be a roaring success. We expect more teams to register before the October 19 registration deadline," Nkuna said yesterday.

This will be the first time that this tournament, which regularly attracts teams from as far afield as Botswana and Lesotho, will be played at the University of Johannesburg.

For the past seven years, the matches have been played at the Arthur Bloch sportsgrounds in Mayfair, Johannesburg. The growing tournament is the brainchild of Pirates marketing executive Nkosana Khoza. Nkosana is the son of Pirates chairperson Irvin Khoza.

Nkosana said: "We understand that many companies have had their budgets slashed as a result of the economic downturn but we are confident that we will reach our target of 120 teams."

The winners will receive R40000 and the runners-up R15000.

The bronze medallists will get R10000 and the team that finishes fourth will receive R5000.

The registration fee is R2280.