earn the right to oppose them in this month's World Cup qualifier.

However, the secretary of the Antigua Football Association, Ashton McCoy made it clear that while playing against Bermuda was a preference it didn't necessarily mean they thought they stood a better chance of beating them.

"We were looking for Bermuda to win or draw that second leg game in Haiti recently and advance to play us. There is no doubt that we were hoping Bermuda would go through,'' said McCoy.

"But our reason was that we had a better knowledge of Bermuda having played them two years ago while we haven't played against Haiti since 1984 and are obviously not that familiar with them,'' he added.

McCoy also admitted that Antigua had received reports from a source about Bermuda's performance against Haiti at National Stadium during the first leg encounter and were informed that the Bermuda team wasn't as sharp as it was when Antigua held them to a 2-2 draw in the Shell Caribbean Cup tie in April of 1990.

The news of Bermuda's recent performance combined with the lack of knowledge of Haiti's team had Antigua in Bermuda's corner going into the Haiti match-up.

McCoy also revealed that Antigua had made several national team changes since coming to Bermuda, including replacing their coaches. Former national team goalkeeper William Lewis is now in charge of the team assisted by Rohan Benjamin.

But Antigua could be in for a rude awakening because Bermuda, too, have made a number of changes to the team that played in that Shell fixture, although national team manager Gary Darrell remains firmly in control of the squad.

The Bermuda attack for that particular game was led by Cory Hill, Sheridan (Baldy) Ming and Elliott Jennings but this time Antigua will face a more formidable attack spearheaded by professional Shawn Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and Sammy Swan.

In fact only Dennis Brown and Meschach Wade (substitute) of the present squad remain from that Antigua clash.

McCoy expressed his association's delight with Bermuda having met Antigua's request to have the first-leg game played in Antigua on Sunday, June 14, and the second leg here on July 4.

"Bermuda's acceptance of the request shows their true sporting friendship and we would certainly like to convey our gratitude and thanks to the BFA and the Bermuda public in general,'' said McCoy.

"Our team is involved in the Shell Caribbean Cup final in Trinidad and we are scheduled to fly to the competition on the day after the first-leg game against Bermuda.'' Bermuda also have a busy month ahead. In addition to the Antigua game they have committed themselves to playing the United States Olympic team at the stadium of Old Dominion University in Virginia on June 20.

FLASHBACK -- Bermuda's Sheridan (Baldy) Ming is seen in action against Haiti in the Shell Caribbean Cup tie at National Stadium two years ago. Ming scored one of the goals in the 2-2 draw. The two teams meet again in a two-leg World Cup qualifier, the first leg to be played in Antigua on June 14.