WHEN North Village brought down the curtain on another soccer season last Sunday, winning the FA Cup to complete a richly deserved double, they also brought to an end a campaign that for the most part will be remembered for what transpired on the field and not off it.

And considering the events of the last few seasons, that's an accomplishment in itself.

Bermuda Football Association have had a habit of courting controversy, perhaps more frequently than any other sports governing body, the result being that achievements on the pitch have often been overshadowed, even diminished in significance, because of the squabbling among those who administrate the game.

Thankfully, this season that hasn't been the case.

And for that a lot of credit has to be given to president Larry Mussenden and his team of executives who took over the reins last summer.

In his first term in charge, Mussenden has managed in many ways to restore confidence in the BFA. What he and his committees have done, they have done quietly, efficiently and without a great deal of fuss.

They have got on with the job of running and reorganising the sport using, what appears to those on the outside at least, a sensible and disciplined approach.

That isn't to say that local soccer isn't without its problems. There are a number of areas where it could be greatly improved.

Club facilities still desperately need upgrading, more referees are needed and there's much work to be done in the various national team programmes.

But the BFA do appear to be moving in the right direction.

From our point of view in the media, Mussenden has been both visible and accessible, thus keeping the lines of communication open between the governing body and the sporting public. If there have been issues that needed addressing, he's been quick to do just that.

One of his first initiatives was to attack the scourge of drugs that had become so prevalent at just about every ground on the Island. He still hasn't weeded out (excuse the pun) all of the miscreants, nor could he be expected to, but there has reportedly been a noticeable drop in the number of offenders.

The BFA's appointment of a director of youth development, taking priority over the vacant post of technical director, also seems to make sense.

If the current executive are intent on making a fresh start, they need to put the focus on players of the future, those who will represent Bermuda at international events three or four years down the road.

That said, all club players need an incentive, and as long as our senior national squad remains inactive, there's little for our best players to shoot for.

However, Mussenden said yesterday that the squad would be up and running some time this year and plans are in the pipeline to bring in teams from abroad - which at this stage of our development seems to make more sense than sending our teams overseas.

Ultimately, local football will be judged by results on the field.

North Village, a team who have perennially played the most attractive soccer but not always reaped reward, showed this season how their brand of football can translate into trophies.

And with Village technical director Kenny Thompson moving into the BFA full-time post of youth director, hopefully that club success can be mirrored at the national level.

As said, there's still much to be done. But the winds of change appear to be blowing in the right direction.