Bermuda's two professional soccer players in England are being sought for the prestigious Shell/Umbro Cup competition in the Caribbean early next year.

Bermuda Football Association's Technical Director Clyde Best confirmed this week that negotiations were underway with Kyle Lightbourne and Shawn Goater's respective clubs, Coventry City and Bristol City, in a bid to have them released for national team duty in April.

Similar attempts were made this year but since the approach by the BFA was late and came at a time when both players were involved in promotion battles with their clubs (Lightbourne was then at Walsall), the BFA later withdrew their request.

However, Best now assures that every attempt will be made to get the pair into the national team this time around, citing the fact that Jamaica brought their professional players home for the World Cup campaign -- a policy backed by FIFA.

"We are negotiating with their clubs. We need to get our professionals back here for that tournament,'' said Best.

BFA officials flew to Washington last weekend to watch Jamaica hold the United States to a 1-1 draw and strengthen their bid for a first-ever place in the World Cup finals next year in France.

Accompanying Best was coaching chairman Aldwyn Savery and the BFA's General Secretary David Sabir.

"It was very encouraging to see Jamaica lift their game. They had a very good understanding of the game, each player had a role to play and they played it superbly,'' said Best who was among the crowd of 50,000.

"Looking at Jamaica and Bermuda, we have the same sort of talent. Our players have to understand that it is vital to be in good shape and be willing to work extremely hard.

"If they do what they are supposed to do, then we can do well next year. We have a good crop of young players coming up.'' As far as Lightbourne and Goater are concerned, Best said that since the tournament was closer to the end of April (at the end of the English league season) it might not interfere with the two players' club commitments. And if there was to be a conflict, he noted the tournament would mean having the services of the two players for "only a few days.'' While the BFA are waiting on a response from the two clubs, the fact that FIFA's policy supports the release of players for international competition, indicates they should be successful Devonshire Colts and Vasco, the only two teams with perfect records in the Coca Cola First Division, will bid to make it three wins in a row this weekend.

Vasco take on Hotels tonight at BAA Field (9.00) while Colts, the division leaders on goal difference, take on third-placed North Village tomorrow at Bernard Park in the day's top match.

Hotels picked up their first points of the season last weekend when they scored twice in the last 10 minutes to beat Southampton Rangers 2-1 and could cause Vasco some problems tonight.

Colts will be looking to remain unbeaten when they travel away to North Village who have a win and a draw from their opening matches.

Southampton Rangers are at home to Dandy Town in a clash of two struggling teams while the other match sees Boulevard taking on Devonshire Cougars at St.

David's.

One Second Division match tonight at BAA Field sees Social Club playing Somerset Eagles at 7.00. Tomorrow the two games in that division are Prospect at home to Wolves, in a clash between first and second place teams, while Hamilton Parish take on Paget at Wellington Oval.