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SCMP Reporter

THE greatest football tournament in Asian soccer history is just five days away from kick-off and already the battle lines have been drawn up.

  The combatants in this case are even more bitter enemies than competing nations Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Japan, North and South Korea.

  The bitter rivals about to do battle are Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, the two titans of the longest and most public of all marketing battles.

  Both have a long association with sport and football, in particular. So the two corporate giants have descended on the sleepy, dusty city of Doha in Qatar that is playing host to the October 15-28 tournament with all the zeal of missionaries in search ofsouls to save.

  History gives Pepsi Cola a significant advantage. Both corporations hesitate to reveal market share, but Pepsi is considered a strong leader - thanks to Coke's perceived links with Israel.

  This has allowed Pepsi to build up a market share roughly three times that of Coke. This is the only continental lead in the hands of Pepsi.

  Coke has the marketing advantage though and appear ready to ambush Pepsi in its own backyard as it were. After a recent deal with the Asian Football Confederation, Coke was appointed official supplier of soft drinks to the body.

  This gives Coke unprecedented marketing access to premium sites right in the heart of Pepsi territory, plus billboard signs around the ground.

  Pepsi is taking none of this lying down and has already festooned much of the sun-bleached streets of Doha with corporate banners turning desolate and empty roads into a sea of corporate blue and red.

  For these two giants, nothing is too much, no matter where and when the battle lines are drawn.

          THE teams for the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers have begun arriving, with dark horses Iraq flying in on Tuesday, followed by Iran and Japan on Friday, and Saudi Arabia and South Korea yesterday. North Korea will arrive this evening tomake up the final six.

  Both Saudi Arabia and South Korea have been preparing right up to the final whistle for this tournament.

  The Saudis despatched an under-strength Russian national side 4-2 in Khobar on Thursday night.

  South Korea finished two warm-up matches against Australia with a win and a draw then promptly hopped on a plane for a final tune-up in Frankfurt.

  Japan had a morale-boosting midweek win over reigning African champions Ivory Coast in the Afro-Asian Nations Cup in Tokyo.

  Iraq's preparations have fallen foul of both United Nations and FIFA restrictions, which forbid air travel and allow the team only to play home matches.

  Nevertheless, Romanian club side Progessul played an unspecified number of matches in Iraq this month, having made the arduous land journey to Baghdad from Jordan.

  Iran only arrived in this tournament thanks to a better goal difference than Syria. However, Iranian skipper Hamid Darakshan is in no doubt that his team will qualify.

  What about North Korea? Reporters covering this extraordinary tournament scratch their heads when this maverick communist country is mentioned.

  ''Nobody knows anything about their football except that all their best players are probably called Kim,'' said one news agency reporter.

  In terms of pedigree, South Korea stand head and shoulders above the rest. But it is only when the first two matches start on Friday will we know the new balance of power in Asian football.



Drinks giants add fizz to Doha event