Outgoing Bermuda Football Association executive Robert Calderon believes the local sport is headed in the right direction.

Calderon, a former senior national team coach and chairman of the BFA's technical committee, recently resigned from the post he held for the past two years.

“I think the new administration has made significant strides to improve the quality of the game,” he said yesterday.

“But the problem when you are doing things that are long term is that you don't see immediate results. And it is going to take some time before the public at large gets to see the many wonderful things that have taken place over the last two years.”

Briefly reflecting upon his tenure, Calderon seemed most pleased by the appointment of Kenny Thompson as director of youth soccer and re-appointment of Gary Darrell to the senior national programme. He also reserved high marks for president Larry Mussenden.

“Larry (Mussenden) has led the association in an inclusive manner and I think we have been able to improve our relationship with the affiliates and for sure the press as well, which is very critical in order to move the game forward,” he added.

“But one of the most significant things I believe is the selection of Kenny Thompson as the director of youth. He's done an amazing job and has worked very hard and has a lot of progressive ideas. The academies (football) and some of the things he's done with the Under-17 national team should be applauded by the country at large. I think it was a significant decision to hire him and the association will be well served if they can keep him onboard.”

Also, according to Calderon, “the groundwork has been laid for a profitable harvest”.

“It took us a long time actually to have the game deteriorate to the point where it was - and to some extent still is. But I can see some improvements,” he said.

One shining example, he offered, was at the junior level.

“If you look at some of the younger teams play there is a lot of talent there,” he noted. “And what we need to do is to connect the youth teams to the senior programmes to ensure there is a seamless relationship there. And that is something that we plan to do.”

He added: “What is very critical is that we bridge the gap between the Under-17 national team and the senior national team and to involve ourselves in the 2005 Under-20 World Cup. So it is very critical that we don't lose our Under-17 players and that there is continuity between youth and senior football.”

When asked what prompted his decision to resign, Calderon replied: “My plan going in was always to serve one term. I felt there were a few things that needed to be done and I think we have accomplished them.

“And to be honest, once those things were achieved, it sort of made the technical committee somewhat redundant. And it meant that I felt comfortable moving away because a lot of things had been achieved.

“And so I'm very pleased with the direction the association is going and the administration is in good hands.”