Brazilian coach Marcos Falopa didn't hesitate when he heard that the Bermuda Football Association wanted his services for the second summer in a row.

He recalls being overawed by the overwhelming response that he received from the coaches last summer, when more than 40 showed up for a course originally designed for 30.

It was something he had rarely experienced at other clinics he had conducted while acting as a Technical Director of CONCACAF in the Central American and Caribbean regions.

Falopa said the interest shown by coaches to further their knowledge of the sport only helped to energise him more and he hoped that this year's participants would be just as enthusiastic as last year's.

"I was glad to hear that Bermuda wanted to have me back to do the Level Two course. Since it was clear that all were pleased with the classes last year I wasn't surprised when CONCACAF president Jack Warner sent me to assist you once again,'' said Falopa, who arrived from Trinidad and Tobago.

The five-day course gets underway this morning at Stonington and the BFA expect about 30 coaches to participate.

Falopa, who has coached several clubs in Brazil and abroad in countries like Cameroon, Japan, United States, Europe and Africa, indicated that the present course would be more intense than the previous ones but reckoned that the participants should find it rewarding.

"I expect the course to be very interesting. We will try to add to existing programmes, not only to pass on information but we would like to evaluate just what should be adopted here.

"But I cannot come and try to put Brazil soccer inside of Bermuda. We have to work the Bermuda and Caribbean way, but while doing so try to add some positive things,'' said Falopa.

He will also use the course to show several relevant training films featuring action he took during the World Cup in France. It contains footage of the host country and Holland, whose training impressed him the most.

Additionally the local coaches will have a chance to see some action that he recently took of the final at the CAC games in Venezuela.

Many countries in the Caribbean and Central America are appreciative of CONCACAF's belief in establishing programmes that will eventually assist in the development of good players and teams in the region -- and Falopa is pleased to see the results of his work in the region.

"We are trying to help build programmes so that countries like Bermuda can become better. I know Bermuda is close to qualifying for the Caribbean Cup, but they just need assistance to build on their existing programmes in order to progress,'' he said.

"There is great interest here in the game of soccer; a lot of the coaches who have come to the clinics have been attentive and have worked hard from start to finish and this is a good sign. I have had some letters from them saying that they wanted me to come back.'' Falopa thinks Bermuda will continue to make strides towards establishing itself as a prominent soccer country. But he said it was important for it to remain patient and to work towards improving existing programmes.

He pointed to the programme set up in Jamaica three to four years ago. That produced results with the Caribbean nation qualfying for the World Cup for the first time in their history.

"If you work hard you will reach a good level of soccer one day,'' he said, adding that Jamaica's success could be attributed to the fact that they gave their Brazilizan coach total support.

"They qualified not just because they had a good coach, but because they had good people around him and the players, coaches and the association got strong support from the entire country,'' said Falopa.

But he was unable to put his finger on why his own country, which had a large local following during France 98, had failed to retain the World Cup.

"Actually only God can answer that one. But I was there and I was surprised with the things that happened minutes before the match,'' he said.

"The team didn't feel well on the field, and you can certainly say that we lost one of our best players in Ronaldo. But it could be that it just wasn't our time, it was the time of the French. They showed good tactics, good movement on the field and won.

"You cannot win every time -- a surprise happened and it was good for soccer.

"But Brazil have good players and they will be back on top of world soccer again.'' BOOKED -- Clyde Best, Bermuda's technical director, receives a copy of a book titled "The Brazilian way to play soccer'' from CONCACAF'S technical director Marcos Falopa. The Brazilian is here to conduct a level two coaching clinic at Stonington.