Newly installed senior national football coach Keith Tucker is determined to hit the ground running with next year's World Cup qualifiers high on the list of priorities.

The 53-year-old former Somerset Trojan, who last week succeeded Kenny Thompson for the top job that pays nearly $40,000 annually, understands the enormity of the task that lies ahead but insists Bermuda has what it takes to become a force on the world stage if those willing to slip on a national team jersey are prepared to play in harmony with each other and give nothing short of their all for their country.

"I think it's an honour to represent your country and the players must learn to take that seriously and put their best foot forward," the former Howard University and US Olympic development coach said.

"I think this is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a potentially great team but the next step is up to them. It's not about individuals but more about representing your country to the best and they must be professional on the field and want to play for each other and play to their full potential.

"We have some very talented players here in Bermuda and I can't wait to showcase them at this level. These guys are special but they have to be prepared to put everything into it and once they feel confident in themselves and in their team-mates then the sky is the limit."

Tucker, who played alongside the revered likes of George Brangman, the late Richard (Dirt) Simmons, Rudy Minors and Larry (Muscles) Hunt, to name a few, at Trojans before heading off to the US in pursuit of a coaching career, has already cast the net wide in search of the right combinations to take Bermuda forward.

"The process is always to find the best players that will bring out the best in each other. We want to look out for the best players available and then build from there," he explained. "And I think it's an honour to be a part of their development as players."

Tucker, who has yet to announce his technical staff, realises that time is of the essence with World Cup qualifiers on the horizon but is prepared to make the most of what time he does have to kick start a senior national programme that has sat dormant for the past eight months.

"I have no excuses. I just have to go out there and give it my best," he declared. "We already have the potential and if we prepare well then we should do well." Last week Bermuda Football Association (BFA) technical committee chairman Mark Trott revealed that the association were in the process of arranging a series of home matches for the senior national team against teams in the Concacaf region.

"We're working on something fruitful. What we have set up will be more beneficial with a group of matches planned in Bermuda before the new year," Trott told The Royal Gazette.

Tucker is now keeping his fingers crossed that matches can be arranged at the earliest possible date to provide his charges with an ideal platform to re-launch the senior national football programme in front of the home support.

"We need at least four games in front of our spectators to try and gain confidence," he reasoned. "I think it's vital that we get the 12th man (the fans) behind us and get Bermuda really excited about the World Cup moving forward because everyone has an important part to play."