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Top teams face tricky cup challenge

opponents on January 26, after yesterday's FA Cup draw at the Bermuda Football Association office produced just one all-First Division tie.

That will involve current champions Boulevard against First Division strugglers St. David's. But much of the interest is expected to centre around the other three matches as fans watch to see if one of the First Division teams tumble.

Certainly none of the Second Division teams can be taken lightly as all three -- Hotels, Somerset Eagles and Wolves -- are in the running for promotion.

Hotels, the division leaders and favourites to win the championship, travel to Bernard Park to play North Village. It's a match that Hotels coach Robert Calderon will be looking forward to, not just as a former Village player and coach but also to see how his team match up against higher class opponents.

Hotels have only just returned to the league, having been out since the end of the 1992-93 season, but Calderon has quickly assembled a squad that contains many former First Division players. They include Ricky Hill, Derek Scott, Wayne Campbell, Dennis Robinson, Chris Sabir, Clifford Roberts and Joey Weeks.

Eagles, who were ousted by Devonshire Colts in the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1993-94, meet the First Division leaders at BAA Field. After three matches against Commercial Division teams, Robin Hood, Fire Service and Lobster Pot, Eagles will welcome the underdog role.

So too will Wolves as they meet Vasco at PHC Stadium.

All four matches will be preceded by Crystal Palace quarter-final ties, starting at 12.30, while two women's FA Cup matches on February 15 see Rude Girls playing Wolves Girls and PHC Teasers meeting Dandy Stars.

This Friday is the deadline for members of the public to submit their teams for the Coca Cola All-Star Classic which is scheduled for Somerset on February 2.

"It's going along okay,'' said BFA general secretary David Sabir. "We haven't taken the tallies yet but I believe some work will be done on it this week.

"There is no chance of the deadline being extended so we certainly need people to keep the forms coming in. We want as many people as possible to participate in this venture of showcasing Bermuda's top players.'' There will also be women's and youth all-star matches and those squads, which are being selected by the coaches, are expected to be chosen this week.