Bermuda Football Association (BFA) are beefing up their presence at youth matches to thwart the violence that disrupted Under-17 soccer last season.

Youth Director Kenny Thompson disclosed yesterday that when the junior leagues start tomorrow the sport?s national governing body will be doing their utmost to ensure those attending ? players, officials and fans ? are not in danger from deviant persons using the match locations for gang or turf wars.

Last year?s Under-17 league season was abandoned with about a third of the fixtures remaining after several rowdy clashes between rival factions prompted concern from clubs and parents.

?The BFA will have more visibility with more match and association officials at games and therefore more accountability of the people who may be participating in this negative behaviour,? said Thompson, decrying the offenders? actions and unwelcome effect on football.

?Most of the negative activity was off-field and quite often by people who were not participating in matches. It?s a difficult situation and it?s not something that?s just happening in football.

?We certainly hope this kind of behaviour will not overshadow youth football which is a fantastic activity.?

On a happier note, he announced that the number of teams in the BFA Youth Development programme had increased to 89 across various age groups: 18 in Under-seven; 19 in Under-nine; 21 in Under-11; 14 in Under-13; 11 in Under-15 and six in Under-17.

?That?s quite a number of teams for such a small country. It?s a great testament to the structure we have in the BFA with the assistance of Appleby and also the club programmes.

?It?s an excellent product and football reaches so many people and so many want to participate,? said Thompson at a press conference to signal the extension of Appleby Spurling Hunter?s involvement with youth football.

Appleby?s managing partner Peter Bubenzer pledged $35,000 in sponsorship to junior soccer this year, noting it brings the firm?s contribution to an estimated $100,000 in three years.

?Our involvement reinforces our commitment to Bermuda?s youth and their continued development not only from the athletic perspective but also from an academic, both of which the BFA promotes.

?We look forward to providing not only financial assistance but hands-on support as well,? said Bubenzer at the company?s office.

Reflecting on the growth in junior football, Thompson explained that the rewards of youngsters signing up for football as eight and nine-year-olds was now being reaped as they graduated to higher levels.

?That?s leading to higher participant levels at Under-13 level because they are coming up from Under-11.?

He also expressed delight in another strong turn-out in the Under-seven and Under-nine age groups which were introduced last year. Once again, players will not see competitive action before they reach Under-13 as the younger divisions are purely for development.

?The reason for that is to allow the players to develop in comfort and to experience the game without the stress and pressure of playing for points at such a young age. At Under-seven, when two teams meet, both will still play to win ? that?s natural for athletes.

?But the bigger picture is not to feel the extra burden of playing for a championship which also gives the coaches much more flexibility in concentrating on development as opposed to trying to find a balance between development and success which is a difficult thing to do even at the professional level.

?We want players to develop a romance with the game at a young age and then later on they can concentrate on winning,? explained Thompson.

The BFA official also expressed great satisfaction with the ?excellent response? to their girls? football programme. While girls are only learning the basics of the game now, the long-term goal is to establish a girls? league.