Persib 'to study' soccer in Italy

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)