Nike to hold International Premier Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Sports shoe company Nike will again hold an under-14 Asia-Pacific soccer tournament at South Jakarta's Kuningan stadium June 7 to June 12.

The tournament, called the Nike International Premier Cup, will feature South Korea, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Nike's Asia-Pacific marketing director, Thomas Fox, said in Hong Kong the tournament was to show Nike's concern for young soccer players.

"We hope the tournament can create potential players for the coming years," Fox said.

Paul R. Chua, who is the managing director of the sole Indonesian distributor of Nike shoes, PT Berca Sportindo, said its mission was to prepare talented footballers who could replace the seniors.

In Malaysia in 1996, Indonesia, represented by PSMS Medan, won the Nike tournament and represented Asia in a world soccer tournament in London.

During the tournament, the organizer will hold a drawing contest for children. The children can draw anything about soccer. (lnt)