Government yesterday pledged to pump $150,000 over the next ten years into a tournament honouring late Bermuda Football Association (BFA) stalwart Dudley Eve.

After last year's sponsors, CCS Group, withdrew their backing for the Christmas competition, inaugurated during the 1978-79 season, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation jumped at the opportunity of becoming premier sponsors of the annual event.

Previously known as the Dudley Eve Trophy and Dudley Eve Champions Cup, the 28-year-old competition will now be referred to as the Premier's Dudley Eve Cup Competition.

And under the terms of the new sponsorship package the eventual winners will pocket $3,000, the runners-up $2,000, the third-place team $1,500 and the fourth-place side $1,000.

The cup, as usual, will be contested between the top four teams in the Premier and First Division at the half-way stage of the season.

This year's competition kicks off next Tuesday at the Den with First Division Southampton Rangers taking on inaugural Dudley Eve winners Devonshire Colts and defending Dudley Eve champions Devonshire Cougars hosting North Village in what will be a repeat of last year's final at Wellington Oval which saw the Big Cats run out victors on penalties.

Dudley Eve action will then continue at Somerset Cricket Club on Friday, December 22 with Ireland Rangers pitted against defending champions Wolves in the First Division curtain raiser and Boulevard taking on Somerset Trojans in the Premier Division nightcap.

During yesterday's press conference, held at the Cabinet building, acting Minister of Education, Sports and Recreation ? and loyal Dandy Town supporter ? Neletha Butterfield told reporters: "It gives me great pleasure to announce the Ministry's financial support for the Premier's cup with a contribution of $15,000 for the BFA.

"Sports are a mechanism for providing many benefits to all levels of society. Health, teamwork, mentoring and community spirit are just some of the benefits football provides."

BFA president Larry Mussenden concurred.

"This shows that in Bermuda there is a good relationship between the premier national sport and the Government. And it has always been my view that football can't survive without a good relationship with the Government and the Government can't survive without a good relationship with football," Mussenden said.

During the recent Throne Speech, Government pledged to devote time, energy and financial support to sports and to invest in the Island's largest competitive and most popular game ? football.

"I think there's a healthy respect by people in Government and in the corporate sector for all of the things football does for our community," Mussenden said.

In October, it was learned that the BFA had submitted to Government an ambitious $36 million, six-year plan to revamp football domestically.

And Mussenden remained optimistic that Government would adhere to their mandate and make a similar investment in football as they did in cricket in the fall of 2005 ? to the tune of $11 million over a four-year period.

"What we are seeing here is that football's time has come," Mussenden added. "And as a result funding is forthcoming.

"This is very exciting news and I must admit the Premier pleasantly surprised me by giving the association a ten-year commitment.

"And we are very grateful and look forward to this tournament continuing to be one of the premier sporting festivals of the year."

The late Dudley Eve, who served in Government for 22 years, was a pioneer in establishing the Bermuda Football Association.

Eve was the Assistant Clerk to the Legislature at the time of his death in August, 1978. He died suddenly of an apparent heart attack while walking up the stairs to the House of Assembly where he worked.

Bermuda Football Association will officially launch its new website tomorrow.

The site, located at www.bermudafootball.com, will provide news and a spotlight section featuring youth and senior player profiles, fan of the week and the laws of the game.

In addition, information will also be provided on leagues and competition, national programmes, affiliates, BFA history and organisation, results and standings, BFA chairman Lloyd Smith explained yesterday.