Confusion over cup schedule
Bermuda take to the field in the Digicel Cup tomorrow with a reduced squad but who their opponents will be remains a mystery.
There appears to be no end to the shenanigans surrounding the tournament with a controversial 11th-hour schedule change the latest issue now being dealt with by Bermuda Football Association.
Bermuda were originally scheduled to open their Group E campaign tomorrow against St. Vincent, with a game against Cayman Islands on Friday and then the final fixture against the British Virgin Island being played on Sunday.
Coach Kyle Lightbourne, however, has been under the impression in recent days that the slightly easier opening game was against Cayman and not the hosts, the clear favourites ? something that would play into Bermuda?s hands with Kentoine Jennings suspended and the squad two players short after the late withdrawals of Shaun Goater and Antwon Russell.
And now has learned that St. Vincent proposed a change whereby Bermuda would open against BVI on Thursday before playing back-to-back games against the hosts on Saturday and Cayman on Sunday.
It is understood the changes had been suggested by St. Vincent ? who stepped in at the last minute to save the tournament after Cayman withdrew as hosts after the ravages of Hurricane Ivan ? to maximise gate revenues at the Arnos Vale Playing Field where there are no floodlights.
By only playing one game each on Wednesday and Thursday and then double-headers at the weekend, the hosts would be guaranteed larger crowds even though CONCACAF are understood to be subsidising the costs of hosting the tournament at a stadium where daytime, midweek attendances were always expected to be low.
However, the BFA objected to those proposed changes, insisting that the games be played on the original dates with rest days in between. And CONCACAF confirmed last night the original dates would stand ? although Bermuda?s opponents tomorrow still remain a mystery.
BFA general secretary David Sabir also confirmed the dates for the matches would stand, giving each team a rest day between matches, but admitted he could not be ?100 percent sure? who would take the field against Lightbourne?s men tomorrow.
?We believe it could be BVI but we cannot be 100 percent sure on that,? admitted Sabir.
?It is a case of waiting and seeing but this is not how we like to conduct our business and we have made that clear to the regional body.?
A spokesman for CONCACAF insisted that the fixtures were the same ones published on the regional body?s official website ? meaning Bermuda will kick off against St. Vincent.
But given the events of the past 48 hours, until that games kicks off, no one can be sure.