No sooner has the 2007/08 football season finished, than Setanta Sports has already secured some of the biggest 2008/09 pre-season friendlies for their subscribers.

Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United’s tour of South Africa in the Vodacom Challenge kicks off Setanta’s football offering in July, along with four Sunderland pre-season games from Portugal and Ireland AND Tottenham’s trip to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City.

Setanta Sports is the only place to catch the Barclays Premier League champions’ preparations ahead of their 2008/09 title defence as they fly out to World Cup 2010 host country, South Africa, for the Vodacom Challenge.

The tournament will not only provide viewers with a look at the stars of the Premier League’s best team, but will also provide insight into the environment that Fabio Capello’s side are planning to visit for the 2010 World Cup.

Here are all the pre-season friendlies so far announced:

KAIZER CHIEFS V MANCHESTER UNITED – Saturday, July 19th
SPORTING LISBON V SUNDERLAND - Sunday, July 20th
ORLANDO PIRATES V MANCHESTER UNITED - Monday, July 21st
VITORIA DE SETUBAL V SUNDERLAND - Wednesday, July 23rd
VODACOM CHALLENGE FINAL (featuring MANCHESTER UNITED V KAIZER CHIEFS or ORLANDO PIRATES) – Saturday, July 26th
COBH RAMBLERS V SUNDERLAND – Monday, July 28th
NORWICH V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – Monday, July 28th
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V SUNDERLAND – Wednesday, July 30th
SHAMROCK ROVERS V SUNDERLAND – Saturday, August 9th