BERMUDA'S national Under-23 football team have been undergoing intense training ahead of next month's preliminary qualification matches for the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

Under the watchful eye of coach Kenny Thompson, the players have also been having some two-a-day practises ¿ with the first starting at 6 a.m.

Thompson said this week: "We fly to Cuba on September 7 where we will face Cuba, the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico. The winner of the group will go through to the next round."

Twenty-two Caribbean nations have been placed in six groups for the first round qualification. Aruba, the Bahamas, Cuba, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago will each host a Caribbean first round group that runs from August 31 to September 13.

The six group winners will advance to the second round that consist of two three-team groups scheduled for October 2007. The top finishers in each triangular group will progress to the 2008 CONCACAF U-23 final round tournament.

Thompson said he expects it to be very hot in Cuba next month.

"The conditions in Cuba, from what I remember, will be very warm," he said adding that he expects to play on a better pitch than what he experienced before playing in that country.

"The pitch was not that good. However I am expecting this time that the pitch will be better as I understand that they have done some development with their technical centre. The pitch they have there is better."

And Thompson said he has been very pleased with the players' commitment.

"We are having as many as five and six sessions a week. Training in the heat is difficult and I have to organise the sessions in such a way that they are the right intensity but with a lot more breaks. I have to schedule the breaks in accordance with how hot it is and how hard they are working . . . I have to keep the players hydrated as it is important to stay hydrated even when they are not thirsty.

"We have had a fantastic turnout. On island we have a squad of 18 players and some players have already returned to school abroad. We will be able to choose from as many as 25 players."

Thompson said that the players have been very motivated . . . especially that they can now see where the international game is headed for Bermuda.

"There is a core group for the national team as well. There is something for them to aim at. The motivation and desire is excellent and we have upped the commitment regards to physical conditioning. Three times a week we have done two-a-day sessions."

The first match in Cuba will be staged on September 9 at 5 p.m. between Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands and that will be followed by Bermuda taking on the hosts and favourites Cuba at 7 p.m.

On September 11 Bermuda will play the Cayman Islands in the early 5 p.m. game with Cuba taking on Puerto Rico in the late match.

Bermuda's final match will be against Puerto Rico on September 13 at 5 p.m. while Cuba will take on the Cayman Islands at 7 p.m.

Hosts Cuba have managed to schedule all three of their matches at 7 p.m. when the temperature will have decreased somewhat.