AC Milan here sparking frenzy from local fans
JAKARTA (JP): After a twenty-four hour delay, soccer giant AC Milan arrived here yesterday to a boisterous welcome from a frantic and enthusiastic crowd of 200 and about 50 security guards.
AC Milan is scheduled to meet Persib Bandung, the champion of the intercity amateur championship for a friendly match at the Senayan Stadium on Saturday.
Their tour here is organized by A & E Sports Communications, which tried to pit the three-time European champions against Chilean champion Colo-colo in Indonesia in October 1992.
The 20-month delay has fueled the anticipation of the Indonesian people, who are mostly ardent soccer fans.
Soccer's popularity in this country is only matched by badminton.
The fans, consisting of some high-schoolers and youths dressed in AC Milan jerseys, were crowded in front of the arrival gate about one hour before the star-studded European's flight landed.
Eventually, about 30 police officers and 20 security guards in civilian clothes tried to keep order by demanding the anxious fans to move beyond the barriers.
Although the fans complied, they constantly jeered at the guards.
The over-excited fans also persistently attempted to push closer to the arrival gate.
The situation became more confusing when the Reog Ponorogo, an East Javanese traditional dance featuring loud music and masked dancers, started.
The security personnel were also uncooperative with the flock of photo-journalists, causing one brief argument between a photographer and an officer.
Despite all the agitation, order was maintained.
When the booters finally walked out of the arrival gate, the fans went berserk, screaming and jostling their way in the hope of getting their heroes' autographs.
In tears
Some teen-age girls were almost in tears because they managed to get a signature from Gianlugi Lentini.
"I can't believe it, he's so awesome," said one of them.
Outside, after all the players and officials were seated in their air-conditioned bus, the fans stormed the vehicle.
Meanwhile, right in front of the bus, Agum Gumelar, chairman of the committee for Saturday's match -- who is also an Army general -- calmly watched the pandemonium while puffing a cigarette.
Almost immediately after the booters' bus left, the excited crowd dispersed and left Soekarno-Hatta airport to its normal activities.
During their Asian Tour 1994, the European "Dream Team" will not field the top players who will be joining the Azzuri in next month's World Cup in the United States.
Other stars such as Dutchmen Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten are also absent from this tour.
AC Milan this time is "only" armed with players such as Italian Gianlugi Lentini, the world's most expensive soccer player, and the Croat Dejan Savicevic.
Ghanian Marcell Desailly had already arrived on his own on Monday.
On Sunday, during the last stop of their Latin American tour, AC Milan was whipped 2-1 by host Columbia in Bogota.
The three-time European champion has offered US$25,000 to Persib Bandung if the latter overcomes the odds and beats the soccer Goliaths.
One wonders if such miracle will take place at Senayan, and how the fans would react if the improbable did happen. (hdj)