Months of consultations with overseas experts and long-term strategic planning yesterday culminated in Bermuda Football Association (BFA) receiving an enormous financial injection from Government.

Sports Minister Randy Horton officially announced at the Cabinet offices yesterday that they will fork out $15 million dollars to local football's national governing body over the next five years, funding that will go towards revamping the sport and financing the BFA's various programmes.

The huge donation will now go towards the hiring of a technical and youth director, preparing the Island's assortment of national teams for overseas commitments, upgrading of the domestic league and cup competitions and also to support academic and scholarship programmes for youth footballers.

In addition, the association also intend to host a major footballing spectacle at the National Sports Centre which could see legendary footballers from around the globe suit up for a series of exhibition matches.

“It is our intention, not for this upcoming year, but for the second year to be able to host a world football classic like you see other sports do here,” stated BFA president Larry Mussenden.

“We have a fantastic stadium, don't have to build it, can make it happen and so we look forward to a lot of support from the corporate sector as well as the individuals who will be able to come and enjoy themselves at the football classic.”

Additional public funding will go towards raising the standard of refereeing, club development and also the hiring of a full-time professional fund development officer whose duty will be to raise additional money from the corporate sector.

Mussenden said the significant cash injection shows the faith that Government and the people of Bermuda have in the BFA to set out a plan - and then be able to execute it.

“More importantly this level of funding over a long term demonstrates the faith that is placed by Bermudians in the power of football to develop Bermudians through football,” he added.

“Personally I have enjoyed the development of the strategic plan. Planning and long-term planning is something that I particularly enjoy and so it's been a real pleasure to work with people from FIFA and also management consultants here in Bermuda as well as the BFA executive.

“A lot of credit also has to go to Andrew Griffith, our treasurer, who was able to organise all of the numbers and costs and all of this is a true credit to Andrew.

“I'm extremely happy because when set out to do the strategic plan, knowing that we also had to come up with a long-term plan, seeing the numbers was scary.

“But we realised that our job is to go out and do what we could to raise that money. So having $15 million committed to the programme by Government today shows that it is a solid and achievable plan.”

The BFA submitted their strategic plan to Government last year, who then pledged to inject substantial funding into local football in the last Throne Speech.

Mussenden praised Sports Minister Randy Horton and all of those who played an integral role in helping to bring the strategic plan to fruition.

“We must extend our sincere gratitude to you (Horton) for the work you have done to support our request for funding. You were a great player who scored goals. A great coach who won trophies and now you are certainly a great Minister who has made football history again,” he said. “It is also appropriate to extend our thanks to Minister (Dale) Butler, the former Minister of Sports, for his support of football and also our strategic plan.

“I would also like to thank the executive members who slaved over the strategic plan all of last year in order to get it completed. We are a great team and will do our best to execute the plan to the satisfaction of all Bermudians. “Sometimes in life all we think about is getting things or what people can do for us. But my time in the BFA has proven to me, and I believe to all of the other volunteers in football as well, that it has been more gratifying to us to give of ourselves our time, our own money and advice with nothing expected in return.

“So the true joy of life really has to be about giving of yourself, and as a result good things happen around you like today.”

Yesterday's announcement arrived some 15 months after Government decided to invest $11 million into cricket - the Island's other national sport - over a four-year period.

Having been guaranteed $15 million over the next five-years, Bermuda Football Association are the Island's wealthiest national sporting body.

“We are the most exciting sport in Bermuda, have the largest numbers in Bermuda and generate the greatest passion in Bermuda. And so it is for all of these reasons why football should also have the most funding in Bermuda.

“But we also know that all of the other sports deserve funding as well, and we hope that they will be able to work on the development of their own plans and then seek funding accordingly.”

There are presently 4,395 registered footballers in Bermuda overall that participate in over 2,500 matches annually - which provides three million hours of football action locally.

Sports Minister Horton, meanwhile, said there was “growing evidence” that involvement in sports helps to prevent young people from getting mixed up in crime and drugs.

Horton himself is one individual who benefited tremendously from playing sport locally.

“Had it not been for me playing sports as a youngster, I may not have been a Government Minister today,” the former New York Cosmos, Somerset Trojans and Bermuda national team footballer said.

“I believe that playing a team sport such as football helps to prepare young people for the successes in life. It helps them to appreciate a sense of community - something that is instilled in them before they even step onto the pitch.

“The Government recognises the role that football plays in Bermuda. It is now time to provide significant funding so that the people of Bermuda can be a part of the development of football over the next few years.

“I wish to extend best wishes to the BFA and to all football players, fans and administrators alike. Our joint expectations are high and we look forward to victory and success at every level.

“Continually supporting the entire football fraternity is vital in order for this to be achieved. You have the resources, now let the work begin.”