AC Milan to 'teach' Persib for sure game next month

JAKARTA (JP): Local soccer fans will be in for another rare treat when the star-studded European club AC Milan graces Senayan stadium here for a friendly match with Persib Bandung, this year's winner of the national inter-city amateur championship.

"It's been confirmed that the European 'dream team' will meet Persib on June 4," Agum Gumelar, amateur league administrator of the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI), told a press conference here yesterday.

The Italian soccer giant, European champion three years running, will arrive in Jakarta on May 31. Indonesia will be the first Asian stop on its Summer Tour 1994 following the Central American leg.

On May 8 Sampdoria, the Italian Cup holder, treated Senayan soccer fans to an afternoon of high quality soccer when Lomabrado, David Platt and company played Indonesia's Liga Selection in a friendly match won by the Italians 3-2.

Agum said that AC Milan, which is owned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, will not field its players who were selected to don their national colors at next month's World Cup in the United States.

The Italian team, however, will feature its other stars including Croatian Zvonmir Boban and Rumanian Florin Raducioiu.

"Marco van Basten, who is still nursing an injury, might also make the trip to Jakarta," said Eddy Sofyan, a former national soccer coach who will jointly sponsor the event with the Republika daily.

He added that the Rp 1 billion (US$457 million) event will be broadcast live by Italian television and RCTI.

Agum said that Persib Bandung will feature the same line-up which won the inter-city championship. "I expect a high-quality match," he added.

AC Milan is scheduled to leave Indonesia on June 6 to continue its Asian tour in India, China and Japan. (hdj)