BEIRUT. Oct 9: (ilobe-troltlng coach Bora Milu-i movie is hoping China can ditch l heir choker' tag al the Aslan ( up, reports AFP

Mlhitmovic. the only man to manage four countries at the World Cup. has been brought in to help China achieve their holy grail — qualification for (he 2002 finals

And a winning performance in Lebanon would provide his team with the |>erfect launchpad for their 2002 qualifying campaign, which gets under wav next year.

Recent history suggests a red Chinese dawn over Beirut is unlikely however.

They have never won Asia's premier football tournament and stand alone amongst the continent's recognised powers as never having qualified for the World Cup.

A tendency to fluff their lines on the big occasion has seen China dismissed as perennial 'chokers' in some quarters.

This trait was evident at the last Aslan Cup in the United Arab Emirates four years ago. when they led 2-0 against eventual champions Saudi Arabia In the quarter-finals only to eventually lose 4-3 They made a .similar hash of (heir 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Whether M Hut Inovic can stop the rot remains to be seen, and China will do well to secure one of the top two automatic berths from Group Two. which includes South Kou a. Kuwait and Indonesia

Mihitinovic's task won't have been made any easier bv the Chinese Football Asmmij. non s decision earlier this year to ban striker Hao Haidong from the Asian Cup.

Hao was disc iplined In July after rushing onto a pitch to shout at a referee during a club match.

And while the players are letermincd to give a good account of themselves, most acknowledge that World Cup qualification remains the ultimate prize.

"I think the Asian Cup is mostly important lor the World Cup qualifiers? China captain Zhang Enhua said.

"Bora has said that the results in Lebanon aren't too im-|>ortant and wc still have some players who are not in the team I think we need some more experience, especially for the younger players." said Zhang, who laments the dismissal of English coach Bobby Houghton earlier this year.

"Bobby brought some ver. advanceci knowledge of soccer, ol European soccer to China/ and he was the first coach to let ns know what the game Is all about."