Question: When did you start planning for the Clyde Best Invitational Tournament and what were the Bermuda Football Foundations main objectives?

Answer: <$>Providing our top youth football talent with an opportunity to compete against quality opposition, at home, was our primary goal. The planning started in January-06 with the BFF and its partner, Elite Tournaments, engaging representatives from the BFA Youth Football and Technical Committees, along with a representative from the Bermuda Referees Association in a discussion centred around the BFF’s plan to establish the Clyde Best Invitational Youth Tournament on February 17 and 18, 2007.

At that point we had already determined that this weekend (President’s Day) was by far the best slot available for all concerned. We had also placed a tentative hold on the National Sports Centre fields and where attempting through the BFA to secure the Police Recreation Club Field. Unfortunately we didn’t secure the Police Field so we had to scrap the U-16 age bracket.

From that initial discussion, the BFF and Elite Tournaments moved forward with our plans and here we are.

Questi <$>Do you think that you have accomplished your goals set for a successful event?

Ans: <$>Only after the last team departs from the island will we be in a position to provide an accurate response to that question.

Suffice it to say, that we are very pleased that we have managed to attract 374 visitors for this event, staying no less then three days in our local hotels. It is equally important to note that all visiting teams have paid their full way (air-hotel-taxes-food & beverage) to which we are extremely grateful, in light of the fact that these teams could have selected from an abundance of other well established tournaments (domestic-United States) at a fraction of the cost.

Additionally our National Select teams will be provided a strong test from several quality teams, at little, to no cost, to the BFA.

Quesn: <$>How was the event received by sponsors?

Aer: <$>Our approach to our main sponsors the Ministry of Tourism and Transport and the Department of Youth & Sport was quite simple. The event has both tourism and sporting components. The island’s hotels benefit from paying guest in February, our island’s youth receive quality sporting competition at no cost to the relevant national association, taxes generated from airport departures and hotel room taxes go back to Government, retail outlets will benefit and hotel staff will pick-up gratuities. In all, we estimate the event will generate approximately $150,000 to the island’s economy.

Also, we didn’t ask for or require a cash disbursement — contributions were handled with in-kind support and it’s my guess, through internal accounting as Transport falls under the same Ministry as Tourism (sponsor) and the National Sports Centre trustees answer to the Department of Youth and Sport (sponsor). I must add that the assistance from PTB staff has been amazing and much appreciated. Additionally both host hotels, The Fairmount Southampton and the Grotto Bay Resort, provided attractive room rates.

We were also very fortunate to receive the assistance of Lee Holder who has done a great job in securing volunteers from the referees association and several referees no longer involved in league football. These referees will be assisted by three referees that we are bringing in from the US. This was no small feat as although we had requested and hoped that football would be suspended for this weekend, which was requested when we first talked with the various representatives back in January last year, there will be a full slate of local football over this weekend. Albeit, the U-13 and U-15 league games were suspended.

Quion: <$>Do I detect a sense of frustration with this?

Frustration, no, not all. The tournament will take place and the players will benefit from the experience. Both hotels, I have been advised, are full over this weekend and so life is good.

stion: <$>Do you plan to offer the type of atmosphere provided to spectators by the World Rugby Classic and last year’s 20/20 Classic tournaments?

Answer: <$>Simply put — not even close! What we will provide is same age, quality competition that will give our youth an opportunity to see first hand who they will compete with for scholarship spots on US college football (soccer) programmes. The BFF have no delusions of creating the next Clyde Best through its various programmes. We do believe however, that if our kids apply themselves in the classroom and on the field, they have real shots at college scholarships. That’s the benchmark that we have set.

Did I answer your question?

Yes and No:

B>Answer: <$>OK, no we won’t have hospitality tents and fitness activities and all the other bells and whistles found at the other events mentioned. They had a different focus and we don’t have the money nor do we see the need to provide anything more then good competition. It’s the National Sports Centre after all and the facilities are very good with plenty of seating. Those that want to see quality games for free will come out and support our youth National Select teams. Those that want a spectacle, well, they will be disappointed.

>Question: <$>Can you confirm the game schedule?

Answer: All games will be played at the Main Stadium field, with concurrent games taking place at the two fields commonly referred to as the “north fields”.Games start at 9 a.m. and the last three games will finish at 6:45 p.m. each day (on Saturday and Sunday).

Thanks to the generous coverage provided you and other press we have received considerable coverage of the tournament. Additionally we have distributed thousands of flyers providing the full schedule. That being said, for those that still require this information they can log on to the tournam website at www.elitetournaments.com and seek out the Clyde Best Invitational Tournament page, where they will find the pertinent information. Also, results will be posted on the site at the end of each day’s play.

Question: <$>What’s next for the BF

Answer: <$>With the $15 million cash infusion into local football through the BFA, we will continue to offer various programmes that are in varying degrees of completion.

For instance we will continue with the Soccer-Expert 4 Course programme for Youth football coaches.

We will continue our relationship with Jacques Crevoisier; as a matter of fact he is due back in March of this year.

We will also plan to send another youth coach to France to learn from Academy Directors at Clairefontaine and FC Sochaux. Plans are in the works.

However what we are most excited about is the fact that we —Clyde Best, my brother Robert and I — have picked up a 30 percent stake in a top Super-Y League club, the Reading Rage. We will have a seat on the Board of Directors and a seat on the Coach and Player Selection Committee. As you know the Super Y League is the top National Youth League in the United States and where the top five percent of America’s youth football talent between the ages of 13 and 20 compete. Is also the number one source for college coaches when recruiting? The Rage has both boys’ and girls’ teams at all age brackets and a PDL team (Professional Development League). The Super Y and PDL fall under the umbrella of the United Soccer Leagues.

We have approached and offered invitations to five student/athletes to play for the various Rage teams this summer as it is a summer league with no disruption to school work.

The plan is provide all five with this opportunity at no cost to their parents

Question: <$>Does the Rage have a USL A League t?

Answer: <$>At present, no. Our main focus is developing youth players. That being said, the plan is to enter a women’s team in the W league (Women’s Professional Soccer League) in 2008. Also, the Rage does have the franchise rights to start an USL A League team should they choose which is something they are considering.

Calderon: Clyde Best Invitational Tournament will give a boost to kids