England vs Italy live on 'SCTV'

England vs Italy live on 'SCTV'

JAKARTA (JP): Local soccer fans will be given the rare treat
of watching live the battle of two European soccer giants,
England and Italy, in the qualifying round of the European Cup at
Wembley Stadium on Feb. 13.

SCTV will broadcast the match at 3 a.m. West Indonesia Time
next Thursday.

Soccer fans are no strangers to these sides, which both have
star-rated players and fanatic supporters. The two countries have
the biggest soccer competitions in the world, and their leagues
are stable and well managed.

The English team, under coach Glenn Hoddle, will rely on
striker Alan Shearer of Newcastle United. Shearer is expected to
destroy the Italian's defense, under the coordination of Paolo
Maldini.

The Italian team, under coach Cessare Maldini, is the team to
watch. In its last trial match, Italy defeated Northern Ireland
2-0.

The Italian team has top-class players and its defense is
solid.

A spokesman for SCTV said, "For certain, the interviewers will
not be disappointed by the match. It will be a thrilling match to
watch."

Meanwhile, another Jakarta-based TV station AnTeve will
broadcast live Indonesia's matches in the Dunhill Cup soccer
championships in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Zoraya Perucha, AnTeve's corporate communications manager,
said yesterday the station would broadcast three of Indonesia's
matches.

The first will be on Feb. 22 when Indonesia meets Zimbabwe (at
6.30 p.m. West Indonesia time). Indonesia will then play Vietnam
on Feb. 24 (6:30 p.m.) and Bosnia Herzegovina on Feb. 26 (4:25
p.m.).

"We will add more live broadcast time should Indonesia advance
to the semifinals and final. We are still deciding whether to air
the match on Feb. 28," Zoraya said in statement.

The championships will begin Feb. 13 and end March 2.

The inaugural Dunhill Cup championships is the fourth major
soccer event to be held in Southeast Asia, following the King's
Cup in Bangkok, Independence Cup in Malaysia and Tiger Cup in
Singapore.

Zimbabwe and China will also compete in the Dunhill Cup
against the Southeast Asian teams, such as Indonesia, Thailand,
Singapore and Vietnam.

Perucha said the cup was very important for Indonesia,
particular as a warmup to the early rounds of the World Cup and
the 19th SEA Games here in October.

"Indonesia will use the Dunhill Cup as a trial to evaluate the
strength of its team among countries of Southeast Asia," Perucha
said. (lnt)