Plans are now on the table that could see Bermuda's football-starved Under-17 national team compete against fellow Caribbean Football Union (CFU) opposition in the very near future.

It was revealed earlier this week that Bermuda Football Association (BFA) are in the process of arranging additional World Cup warm-up matches for the senior national team next month, with the likes of Antigua and Puerto Rico among the leading countries to be invited to tour the Island.

But it is now understood that local football's governing body are also trying to secure warm-up fixtures for the Island's Under-17 national youth team — who will also compete in World Cup qualifiers next year — against some of their CFU counterparts early in the new year.

According to BFA insiders, a proposal has already been put forth that would see at least one senior national from the CFU region travel to Bermuda next month to play against the Island's senior national team accompanied by an Under-17 representative.

Predictably, BFA hierarchy held their cards close to their chest when pressed on the matter yesterday and when reached association technical committee chairman Mark Trott would only divulge: "We are currently looking at a few options but haven't decided on anything yet."

In the gradual lead-up to next year's World Cup qualifiers Bermuda's Under-17s have participated locally and abroad. Under-17 team officials will be keen to see the BFA's latest proposal come to fruition to afford their young charges preparation ahead of what is shaping up to be a rare, busy schedule on the international front.

In addition to next year's Under-17 World Cup qualifiers — at a venue yet to be determined — the Island's Under-17s are also scheduled to compete in the Clyde Best Invitational Youth Tournament on home soil next February as well as the prestigious Dallas Cup in Dallas in March.

Former senior national coach Trott, who is among those who have observed the team evolve steadily into a potentially formidable unit, noted: "We have been preparing this particular team for well over a year now because they have some very promising players at that level."

Bermuda's Under-17s last tasted competitive football at the CFU Under-17 Championships in Trinidad last August.