North Village and Devonshire Colts will meet for the first time in an FA Cup final tomorrow at the National Sports Centre, with Colts aiming to defend the title they won last year and Village seeking their first triumph in 11 years.

And it will be an emotional farewell for one Village player if they manage to pull off victory, as Elliott Jennings has confirmed he will be retiring after the final at the age of 35.

The veteran midfielder/striker has been one of the club's most dedicated players -- a one-club man throughout his career -- and those connected with the club will want a victory for their former captain. But don't expect the cup holders to be feeling sentimental as they have got into the habit of winning finals again and would dearly love to match last year's achievement of lifting both the Friendship and FA Cups. Already Colts have won three trophies this season, the Charity Cup, Dudley Eve and Friendship.

Because of the World Cup qualifying matches, the FA Cup final has been put back three weeks from its original date. And with Village not having played since April 9, they could be at a disadvantage after the lay-off.

But coach Kenny Thompson doesn't think so.

"Not really,'' he said. "It has given us an opportunity to rest. I gave the team a week after the league and we did play a preparation match this week and the team looked in pretty good shape. I would say it has helped.'' While the interest was centred around PHC's history-making run to the league title, with North Village running a close second, Colts enjoyed their success in the cups, winning the Dudley Eve at the start of the new year and then returning to the Friendship and FA finals.

Any number of players could play a big part in the final, with national team defenders Shannon Burgess, the Colts captain, and Kentoine Jennings of Village looking for a happier return to the `carpet' than they experienced a week ago with the Bermuda team.

Village will also lean on the experience of Elliott and Kentoine, Neil Robinson and Dwight Warren who joined them this season from Boulevard.

"Elliott has dedicated himself to North Village and football in general and I think it's a good time for him to stand back and let some of the younger people take over,'' said Thompson.

"He has definitely been a role model for younger players and also players of his generation as well because his conduct and dedication have been exemplary.'' Village will add college student Kofi Dill to their squad, only because he has finished his studies for the year. The club's other college students will not be asked to interrupt their studies.

An exciting strike partnership for Colts has developed between Marvin Belboda and Aljame Zuill who linked up well together in the recent Friendship final and then the FA semi-final when Rangers were humiliated. Belboda is now proving he is more than just a `super sub' and Village will have to deal with him from the outset.

"They're not going to be easy opponents, they themselves have a lot of confidence,'' said Thompson.

"We don't talk too much about winning because so many things can affect winning. We have achieved a whole lot but it has not shown in winning of championships.

"I've been here three years and said from the outset I wanted to develop a total football programme, a programme which demands a lot of commitment from each and every player, to help them view football in a different perspective.'' Thompson will also coach the Village Crystal Palace team in their final against Boulevard which starts at noon. Village provide 12 players for the Bermuda under-15 team which Thompson coaches and which will travel to the US Virgin Islands next month for the second leg of their Caribbean Youth Tournament qualifier.

At 2.00, Rude Girls will take on PHC Zebras in the women's FA Cup final. Rude Girls have already wrapped up another league title, once again comfirming themselves as the Island's premier women's team.

That is further endorsed by the fact that seven members of last weekend's Caribbean Cup qualifier with Bahamas -- Tanika White, Tiffany Swan, Katherine Clarke, Sakena Clarke, Nikita Dill, Erica Russell and the league's top scorer Chevonne Furbert -- come from the Rude Girls ranks.

But league runners-up PHC should provide a good challenge as they were the only team to beat Rude Girls in the league this season. Two of their players, Stacy Babb and Waynesha Bean, were subs for Bermuda last weekend.

Players seeking transfers for the new season are reminded that the first release period is between May 3 and June 30.