The Bermuda Football Association are sending their first ever men’s team to the Island Games in Rhodes in preparation for their forthcoming Olympic qualifiers.

While the Bermuda Under-23 team, who will represent the Island, will be gunning for gold they will also be viewing the Games as a warm-up for their Olympic qualifiers in September.

Mark Trott, from the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), said the team had embarked on a gruelling training schedule ahead of the Island Games and he hoped the opposition would provide them with sufficient challenges.

“To be honest it’s difficult to gauge what the standard of the Games will be like as a men’s team has never entered before,” he said.

“The women’s team went to the Games in 2005 and won bronze, but it’s never been on the men’s calendar of events until now.

“With the Olympic qualifiers coming up it seemed appropriate to send the Under-23 team as part of their preparation.

“They will be able to get games under their belts so to ensure they won’t go into the qualifiers cold. Hopefully it will prove to be a worthwhile exercise and I look forward to reading coach Kenny Thompson’s report on the standard of the Island Games.”

The BFA have also requested the US-based college players stay involved with squad ahead of their first qualifier against Cuba.

It is also hoped some of the better young charges could filter through to the national team in time for the World Cup qualifiers in February and the Digicel Tournament.

With a healthy mixture of youth and experience Trott added he believed the women’s team would once again be among the medal places.

“The women’s team will include many of those who played in the last Island Games but there will also be plenty of new young faces on board. Hopefully we will come back with a couple of medals.”