Bermuda Football Association are hoping that local soccer will reap huge benefits from a CONCACAF executive committee meeting scheduled to take place at the Stonington Beach hotel later this month.

In announcing yesterday that Bermuda would be hosting the meeting for the first time, BFA president Neville Tyrrell called the event "the type of boost soccer needed'' to help take it into the year 2000.

With work well underway to build a new National Centre combined with the BFA's six year international development programme, the CONCACAF executives will be well appraised of the Island's future plans.

"Certainly I see their visit as having far reaching ramifications and view it as something that can start to carry us through to the year 2000,'' said Tyrrell.

Former BFA president and long-serving CONCACAF member, Dr. Gerard Bean, felt it was highly significant that Bermuda would be hosting experienced, high profile officials who not only had ties with North America, the Caribbean and Central America but solid contacts throughout the soccer world.

Heading that list is president of CONCACAF Jack Warner who is a current vice-president of FIFA and Chuck Blazer, the highly respected and long-serving General Secretary of CONCACAF.

Ten additional members will be included in the visiting group, representing the Northern, Caribbean and Central American zones.

The event is being backed by the BFA's largest sponsors, The Bank of Bermuda and Centre Re/Zurich International.

"The greatest significance of hosting the event is that Mr. Warner is also a top ranking official of FIFA, so when you establish good relationships with CONCACAF you are also doing so with the world governing body of soccer,'' noted Bean.

"Naturally, Bermuda's long-standing relationship has helped along with the fact that Mr. Tyrrell and the BFA's general secretary Mr. (David) Sabir realise the need for Bermuda to be involved in international soccer.'' It was just over six years ago that Warner was last on the Island when he visited with members of the Northern Zone which included delegates from the US, Canada and Mexico.

"As Dr. Bean has pointed out, it's a very good plus for Bermuda to have such esteemed soccer people visit us for their meeting. I am sure they had many other places to choose from, but the fact that they selected Bermuda speaks well of us,'' said Tyrrell, who said the BFA would be taking the opportunity to discuss certain local issues.

"One of the things that we will probably take the opportunity to do is to see if there is any possibility in getting any coaching courses scheduled here on a more regular basis as opposed to once a year, and also to see if they can help us organise some training for our referees,'' he said.

The officials fly in on March 19 and depart on March 22.