BEIJING - Serb Ratomir Dujkovic was put in charge of China's team for the 2008 Olympics on Saturday and wasted no time in targeting the semi-finals at the Beijing Games.

The 60-year-old, who led Ghana into the last 16 of the World Cup earlier this year, signed a contract until the end of the Olympics as coach of China's under-23 side and technical director of the senior team.

Serb Ratomir Dujkovic was put in charge of China's team for the 2008 Olympics on Saturday and wasted no time in targeting the semi-finals at the Beijing Games. [sina.com]

"I have to express my happiness at becoming coach of China's Olympic team," Dujkovic told a news conference.

"This is a great challenge for me and all of China. I believe we can target the top four at the Olympics."

Dujkovic developed a reputation as something of a miracle worker after taking Rwanda to the African Nations Cup finals for the first time in 2004 and inspiring Ghana to victories over Czech Republic and US at the World Cup in Germany in June.

The former Red Star Belgrade and Yugoslavia goalkeeper said taking China to the semi-finals of the 2008 Games would be a tougher task than getting Ghana to the knockout round of the World Cup, where they were beaten by Brazil.

"China were recently 103rd in the world rankings while Ghana are in the top 30," said Dujkovic. "But in every country I have worked, I have moved the team between 25 and 30 places up the rankings.

"It's a great challenge and I have an opportunity to bring something to the country. I think we have enough time to prepare a very good team."

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has spent much of the year searching for a coach, with media reports linking Frenchmen Jacques Santini and Philippe Troussier, England's Howard Wilkinson and German Berti Vogts with the job.

TEN CANDIDATES

CFA deputy director Nan Yong said there had been contact with 10 candidates but would not disclose names.

"After careful discussion and consideration we decided on Mr Dujkovic," he said. "This process reflects the high importance we place on the 2008 Games.

"Mr Dujkovic has abundant experience of coaching at international level and the CFA believes he can achieve our goals."

Dujkovic, who has also coached Venezuela and Myanmar, will travel with the Chinese Olympic team to Japan for a friendly in Tokyo on Thursday.

"My philosophy is always attacking football," he said.

"We will try to be more aggressive and play with more speed and fewer touches of the ball. We will have to work very hard with the attackers to score goals but this team has some very good players."

China's men, who qualify for 2008 as hosts, have never previously taken part in the Olympic soccer tournament.