AMSTERDAM.

May 4 (Reuter) Two entirely unrelated matters could help turn — Patrick Kluivert into one of the outstanding stars of the European Championships next month.

The first is his undoubted talent, and the second is a likely ruling by a Dutch court on May 14 that will impose a community service order on him — rather than a custodial sentence — if he is found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving following a car crash in Amsterdam last September

A prosecuting lawyer said during a hearing on Wednesday that he would not oppose a community service order, effectively signalling that Kluivert would spend no time behind bars and be free to play in the tournament.

The Ajax striker, valued at close to 20 million guilders (fl. 5 million dollars) will almost certainly use the chance to enthral a watching worldwide audience with his skills.

Kluivert. who is still only 19. scored the two crucial goals that saw the Dutch qualify for the finals when they beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in a play-off in Liverpool last December.

A prodigious talent who has won the hearts of the Dutch nation, he has attracted scouts from many top European clubs. He grew up in north Amsterdam and joined Ajax's celebrated youth programme when he was seven.

Pressed into first-team action against rivals Feyenord in August 1994. the teenager has been virtually ever-present since and played 40 league games before ne was on the losing side.

Strong and agile. Kluivert combines the power of a sprint athlete and the grace of a thoroughbred.

Gifted in both feet and lethal in the air. he has shown a maturity on the field that belies his youth and speaks volumes for Ajax's youth system which emphasises technique and tactical understanding that is the envy of clubs the world over.

One of the new generation of "thinking" footballers produced and nurtured by the Ajax youth programme. Kluivert is supremely self-confident rather than arrogant, although since the car crash his old

< heeriness has been replaced by a greater reserve.

The teenager captivated his nation when live television* caught his tearful reunion with his mother at Schiphol airport as the victorious Ajax returned from Vienna with the European Cup last May.

Kluivert. overcome with emotion, later danced a boyish jig holding aloft the trophy before over 250.000 adoring fans in the Dutch capital city’s centre.

With Ajax s single goal against AC Milan in Vienna last May. Kluivert became the youngest player to score In a European Cup final, bringing back Europe s premier club

trophy to the Netherlands after almost a quarter of a century.

He also cemented his grow: ing reputation as a burgeoning talent and his name has inevitably been linked with some of Italy's top clubs, although his agent is reported as saying that Kluivert would 6 refer a move to England — ut not for a while.

His Ajax contract runs out in the summer of 1997.

Kluivert made his International debut in the qualifying rounds and has already bagged three goals in six games for his country. His Ajax tally stands at 44 goals In 79 league and cup appearances.