Bermuda Football Association (BFA) administrators Cal Blankendal and Vance Brown completed an historical FIFA football management and administrative course in the Cayman Islands last week.

During the seven-day course ? the first of its kind to be conducted solely by FIFA instructors within the CONCACAF region ? the BFA representatives were brought up to scratch on a wide range of administrative topics associated with the sport such as event, long-term planning and marketing.

The course was co-ordinated by FIFA regional instructors Colin Clarke (Guyana) and Lionel Haven (Bahamas) while CONCACAF development officer Harold Taylor also lectured during the week-long event attended by 22 delegates from the Caribbean region.

Blankendal and Brown arrived home in Bermuda last Tuesday.

?The course was very challenging in the sense there was a lot of theoretical information on how to manage and administrate football in your own country at both association and club levels,? explained Blankendal, president of Western Stars Sports Club.

?And coming from a place such as Bermuda ? where a lot of things are done in a more practical sense without a lot of theoretical information ? the mind was open to a lot of new ideas.?

The course also provided the local pair with an opportunity to establish new connections and peers among the CONCACAF region.

?There was a lot of networking and we also made a presentation explaining football in Bermuda,? Blankendal added.

As for football Cayman Island style, Blankendal explained: ?I think football in the Cayman Islands is still in its infancy but they do have a plan, a technical director and have implemented some good changes.

?So if we don?t keep improving they could possibly catch us up in the next six or seven years.?

Having successfully completed the course, the pair have now been mandated by FIFA to stage a similar course locally for all BFA officials and affiliates within the next six months.

Blankendal hopes to see the course come to fruition early next spring.

?All persons having completed the course (in Cayman Islands) must return to their own countries and set up a similar course and pass on the information to all those interested in football, beginning with the BFA executive and then club administrators and coaches,? he added.

Brown explained: ?I found it (course) to be an eye opener as far as the administrating of football is concerned. It definitely provided me with a new outlook on how football should be properly administrated and the level we need to reach to ensure our clubs are run properly as well.?

As for the presentation, Brown added: ?We made a presentation on the BFA?s long term goals and objectives which was quite extensive.?

Meanwhile, Dudley Eve Champions Cup action continues at Lords on Monday where First Division Paget and Premier Division North Village seek to take route one to the January 2 finals.

Paget, 2-1 victors over St.George?s in midweek, take on the winner?s of last night?s clash featuring St.David?s and Wolves (12.30p.m.), while Village take on the eventual winner of last night?s second cup clash at the Den involving defending champions Dandy Town and Somerset Trojans beginning at 2.30 p.m..

Village outscored Devonshire Cougars 4-3 in their opening Dudley Eve clash earlier this week.