Persib 'to study' soccer in Italy

JAKARTA (JP): Persib Bandung, the winners of the intercity amateur soccer championship, will follow in the footsteps of the semi-professional team Liga Selection to receive soccer lessons from the Italian giants.

The West Javanese squad is scheduled to tackle AC Milan on June 5 at Senayan stadium.

Amateur league administrator of the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) Agum Gumelar told Antara news agency yesterday that negotiations over the international friendly match against Italian champion were still underway.

The date for the match is 12 days away from the kick-off of World Cup finals, but Agum revealed his guarded optimism that Milan's international players will be able to make a trip here.

"Never worry about the quality of Milan footballers who come for the friendly," Agum said.

Persib will bank on its players who formed the winning team in the recent championship vying for the symbol of national supremacy in amateur soccer.

"No import football players will be in the Bandung lineup," Agum said.

Liga Selection fielded two Australian footballers, who have signed for the semi-professional league in the upcoming season, during the match against Italian Cup champion Sampdoria.

Inspired by Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, Milan won the Italian series A three straight times since 1990, collecting two European Championship Cups and the Toyota Cup.

PSSI racked up more than Rp 400 million (US$187,178) from ticket sales at the Sampdoria-Liga Selection friendly last weekend. (amd)