Two big-name soccer club sides from either side of the world could be jetting in to Bermuda next month.

Negotiations to bring in the teams, one from South America and one from Scandinavia, are far from finalised but Island soccer officials are hoping to be in a position to make a final announcement early in the New Year.

Kyle Lightbourne?s side have not trained since their controversial Digicel Cup exit last month but will get together in the New Year ahead of the proposed friendlies.

?There are still a lot of things to sort out,? said Lightbourne, who was unwilling to reveal the names of the potential opponents until everything was finalised.

?But we are hopeful we can get it all together soon. It is important for the national programme to have the side playing as many games as possible, and although there are always issues to do with cost, we are hoping to get these two teams in late January or early February.

?We don?t want to wait until the next World Cup campaign before we play again, so we are always looking at opportunities to play games outside of the regular competitions that we enter.

?We will begin training very early in the New Year and hopefully the lads will have something to train for.?

Lightbourne said he wouldn?t be recalling the overseas professionals Damon Ming, John Barry Nusum, David Bascome and Shaun Goater for the games, instead using just the domestic players available.

?It is important for our guys to play these sorts of games,? continued Lightbourne, whose managerial record for the national side is one win, one draw and one loss since taking over from Kenny Thompson in the autumn.

?Playing against professionals gives them an idea of what they are up against and helps us determine our level of play.

?Regardless of the skill level you have, professional sides will have a different level of organisation and fitness that it is important our national side is exposed to as often as possible.

?It will be a good test for us.?

Lightbourne also said the importance of playing on home soil was a reason behind the desire to bring in quality foreign opposition.

?It is good for the guys to play in front of their friends and families,? he continued.

?It adds a bit of pressure to the game but it is important for them. It is also a good opportunity for the public to see our guys and what they can do and get them behind us and what we are trying to do with the national side.?

Lightbourne said he was hopeful the games would be played at the national stadium, to attract the largest possible crowd.

The Scandinavian season is played in the summer, meaning the visiting side would be in their pre-season while the potential South American opposition would be coming after their completion of their domestic campaign.

Lightbourne added he was also looking at two club sides being invited down to the Island in March as part of his programme of continuous international exposure.

Leading club sides such as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry, Aston Villa have previously played on the Island as well as leading international nations such as Mexico, Haiti in their heyday, and Canada.