EVERYONE has dreams and hopes when a new year starts. And Bermuda’s athletes, coaches and administrators are no different that the rest of us. So this week The Mid-Ocean News asked a variety of sports people what they were hoping for in 2007.

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[obox] GUS LOGIE (Bermuda’s national team cricket coach): At the end of the day I am hoping for great things for Bermuda sport, cricket in particular. I hope that all Bermudians will have enthusiasm for the athletes and I hope that the players take ownership of their roles. I hope they can raise their game to what is expected of them. All I can ask is that everyone support them.

[o] SCOTT MORTON (Dandy Town’s Under 18 football coach): On the football front I hope the BFA are successful at getting the things that are required, especially finances, to get the programme in play. We must make sure we have the right organisation and the right concepts to spend that money wisely. I would like to see a round-table discussion with the past and present footballing minds in order to help move the country forward in one direction. Too many people are doing their own thing. We need one umbrella and we must move forward together with a plan that is long term — over 30-40 years. I would like to have brainstorming sessions regularly and assess the situation all the time.

[obox] PATRICK NESBITT (Bermuda international show jumper): Since I have the qualifiers for the Pan Am Games taken care of already, it takes a lot of pressure off. So I am just hoping that we can keep (his horse) Antille sound and well leading up to July and have her on good form for the Games. Being that the Pan Ams are considered as a qualifier for the Olympics in Beijing 2008, it would great to have a good enough performance in Rio to get us within touching distance of qualifying for Beijing. Hopefully, I can find a second horse to run alongside Antille and get that one qualified as well. That way I will have a back- up plan. I think it is a year or two too early for the stallion Count Alaric. So I need to find something that is ready to go and that is not easy to find. So maybe Santa has one for me! My other wish would be to make a substantial climb up the FEI Gandini World Jumping Riders Ranking list. I made my debut entry this year just outside of the top 500 and I would like to get into the top 250 next year.

[x] CAL SIMONS (Pacers Track Club head coach): I am hoping that we can continue to develop sports programmes so we can look towards the future. I hope we can get our athletes on a good track so they can represent themselves well locally and internationally especially with the Carifta Games and Pan Am Games coming up. I want to help develop the athletes’ abilities and want to see them work on things that will make them better athletes.

[obox] ROGER DILL (Bermuda’s foremost cricket ume): <$>It was a wonderful year last year. I would like to see more of the same and hope that our cricket team does well at the World Cup in the West Indies and keep improving. I also want to keep improving my own umpiring skills — it is an ongoing learning process.

[obox] BOB LEGERE (Head of the Bermuda Golf Association): We have a lot of things going on next year. However we are concerned the effect the PGA Grand Slam event will have on our own Bermuda Open since it is being played at the same time. We were just informed recently that Port Royal is going to be open and not closed for renovations so we are going ahead with preparations for the 2007 Bermuda Open. I hope that the financial supporters for this past 2006 Bermuda Open will be there again for us. I am also hoping that local companies are not asked to co-sponsor the PGA Grand Slam event because it will effect us — we will be back on the street looking for our usual financial support. We managed to get the purse for the Bermuda Open built back up last year and we are trying to build on that so, not to be negative against the Grand Slam, but we are concerned. We are talking with all parties to see where things are.

box] DAVID LAMBERT (Head of the Elbow Beach Celebrity Tennis Classic and former BLTA chief): <$>I would like to see all the components of the pyramid structure of the BLTA from the schools programme to Davis and Fed Cups all be running at full strength. I think that a big part of the philosophy of the BLTA and the Bermuda Tennis Development Foundation will give our young players the opportunity for exposure so that they can work towards a college scholarship. Whether those players turn out to be world class players on the circuit or not, they will be able to acquire a good education and they will be what we call ‘world class citizens for Bermuda’. And they will be playing for Bermuda. My personal drive is to get 10 young men and 10 young women on college scholarships. I also want to see tennis played by all people — not just those who are the top athletes. It is a fun and a family sport for everybody at all levels. If you play twice a week you can stay in shape. It is great for your health no matter what level you play at.

[obox] DAVID SABIR (Bermuda Football Association secretary gral): <$>I am optimistic that football and sport generally will play an increasingly important role in maintaining the social stability of Bermuda. By this I mean football will lift people’s spirit, give our youth a chance to attain self-assurance and opportunities to better their lives. Football will provide parents and guardians with much to cheer about and encourage Government and businesses to support and celebrate our successes. In order to ensure these important benefits to our communities are realised, football must become beneficiaries of appropriate levels of support. Football must also understand and accepts that there will be higher demands and increased expectations placed on its programmes and on those charged with the responsibility to guide football into 2007 and beyond. Therefore, it is my belief that football will meet these expectations and deliver on the promise to do its part to make Bermuda a better place to play and live.

[obox] CLYDE BEST (Former football at and Mid-Ocean News Sports Columnist): Everyone who cares about football needs to move forward in the same direction. It is the sport I love and we must do everything we can for the betterment of the game and not just for our own egos. I also hope that the youth tournament early next year which has been named after me, the Clyde Best Invitational, will be a success.

[obox] RICHARD CALDERON (Secretary of the Bermuda Football Foundation): I hope for a more selfless football community, one that places the future of the game and its participants ahead of personal interest. In short, a Miracle.