Caribbean Cup in the Cayman Islands next weekend -- with the emphasis on experience and strength rather than youthful exuberance.

Devonshire Colts' skipper Shannon Burgess will lead the side, but there is no place for First Division leading scorer Rohaan Simons -- North Village veteran Elliott Jennings and Vasco's Dwight Basden getting the nod as the support act up front for overseas professionals Kyle Lightbourne and Shawn Goater. And Colts' shot-stopper Troy Hall, who many would have expected to provide back-up to probable number one Timmy Figuerido, is another notable absentee, the second goalkeeping spot going to Dandy Town's Antoine Lightbourne.

Simons' at times explosive wing play and deadly finishing for Southampton Rangers -- he hit 19 goals last term -- is seen as surplus to requirements at this stage as Bermuda seek to re-establish their credibility as a footballing nation in the Caribbean region.

Best, who has stayed on in Miami following the under-20 team's World Cup qualifiers in the Caymans earlier in the week, was unable to be contacted last night but head coach Robert Calderon explained: "I think there are probably two reasons for Rohaan's omission.

"First is that in Kyle and Shawn we have two very experienced campaigners, while Elliott gives us another option.

"It may be we decide to play Shawn just behind Elliott and Kyle. In my opinion neither Kyle nor Shawn are target players -- that may have changed but certainly that was the case in 1992. They prefer to play off someone who does the donkey work and Elliott could be used in that role.

"The second reason is that Rohaan has not trained as frequently as we would have liked -- there could be a number of reasons for that -- but we are trying to develop a team with a sense of camaraderie.

"To have taken him could be seen as a luxury -- this tournament gives us an opportunity to regain some status in the Caribbean community: it's not about the future but about right now.'' The need for commitment is also behind Hall's omission, added Calderon. He would have been a definite candidate for inclusion but could only make two training sessions because of work commitments.

Ottis Steede, of Vasco, is another to miss out for that reason. Calderon said: "He was another we were looking at for the wide midfield position. It went down to the wire as to whether we were going to select him.'' Best will meet the players in Miami on Monday, and on Tuesday they will make the two-hour trip to the Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale where they will play a friendly against Major League Soccer side Miami Fusion.

The following morning they will catch a flight down to the Caymans where they will have a full day to acclimatise before their first match with Cuba on Friday evening.

Best will have only 16 players to choose from in Miami, with Lightbourne and Goater flying directly to the Caymans after Sunday's crucial First Division relegation battle involving their respective sides, Stoke City and Manchester City.

Somerset Trojans' Karl Roberts, who will be attending his father Charles Daulphin's funeral on Sunday, will join the squad in Florida on Tuesday.

Full squad Timmy Figuerido (Vasco), Antoine Lightbourne (Dandy Town), Shannon Burgess (Devonshire Colts, captain), Kentoine Jennings (Vasco), Dano Outerbridge (Dandy Tn), Karl Roberts (Somerset Trojans), Neil Paynter (Dandy Tn), Chris Sabir (Hotels), Damon Ming (Dandy Tn), Paul Cann (Dandy Tn), Devarr Boyles (Dandy Tn), Tafari Outerbridge (Boulevard), Dennis Robinson (Hotels), Reggie Tucker (Dandy Tn), Elliott Jennings (N.Village), Dwight Basden (Vasco), David Bascome (Harrisburg Heat), Shawn Goater (Man City), Kyle Lightbourne (Stoke).