Dumitrescu still high on wanted list

LOCAL soccer fans may still get the chance to see Romanian international star Ilie Dumitrescu in action with English Premier Leaguers Tottenham in May - even though the player is on loan to Spanish side Seville.

One of the organisers of Spurs' Asian trip, Ken Ng, said yesterday he would try to get Dumitrescu to the territory when the Londoners will face a Kitchee-Eastern Select side at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Ng said according to the contract signed by both parties, Spurs will field their strongest possible first team squad, including German striker Jurgen Klinsmann and Dumitrescu.

Ng confirmed yesterday that he would ask Spurs manager Gerry Francis to get Dumitrescu back from Spain for the game.

But Ng said that it would not have much effect on the gate receipts, though it would obviously sound more attractive if Spurs could bring all their star players to the territory.

'I don't think star players are so significant to this match,' said Ng. 'The most important thing is that Spurs have good results both in the Premier League and the FA Cup before coming to Hong Kong.

'Who will care about Dumitrescu if Spurs can get through to the FA Cup Final without him?' Ng said that Spurs were 15th in the Premier League when they signed the Hong Kong contract, but since then they have climbed to sixth spot which has coincided with the arrival of Francis.