Old wounds are set to reopen when Bermuda take to the National Sports Centre next Thursday against the visiting Jamaica Under-23 national squad.

For when the visitors emerge from out of the tunnel there will be a familiar face among them in coach Carl Brown - Jamaica's current technical director.

Brown was at the helm of the Jamaican senior national team that put an end to Bermuda's finest run in the World Cup qualifying campaign in 1992. Now Bermuda coach Gary Darrell and his Caribbean counterpart are set to renew their rivalry.

"We've confronted each other a few times at the senior national level," said Darrell yesterday.

"He was in charge of the Jamaica team during the 1992 World Cup qualifying rounds in which we drew with them here and then lost in Kingston."

Managing to erase the pain of that disappointing result, Darrell admitted that he has developed an admiration for his opposing number over the years.

"Brown has been around for a long time. He was there as an assistant coach to the Brazilian coach (Rene Simoes) who took them to the World Cup Finals," said Darrell who recently attended a coaching seminar in Trinidad with Brown. "And I know that he was about to step down but decided to stay on only to give a younger coach the opportunity to develop under a technical director.

"He is very knowledgeable and has a lot of experience. I have a lot of respect for him after getting to know him in a different setting."

Brown was last in Bermuda with the Jamaican Under-17 national team in 2001.

Meanwhile, Jamaica Soccer Federation media relations officer Earl Bailey issued a stern warning to the host country yesterday.

"We are preparing for a tournament and we won't be taking it lightly," he said from the Caribbean yesterday.

"They have been in camp since last week and they won't break camp until they depart for Bermuda. They are currently training twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon."

Bailey also disclosed that the visiting team will bear much resemblance to the one which competed at the CAC Games in El Salvador.

"It's basically the same team that went to the CAC games recently but it has been reinforced with some of the players who couldn't make it at the time," added Bailey. "At least three of our players were abroad in university at that time but they will be a part of this touring team."

The team will also contain senior Jamaican international midfielder Omar Bailey.

"We have a group of players who have been playing together now for some time and we will be using these matches to continue to look at our prospects for the Olympic qualifiers which take place next year."

Bailey also admitted that Jamaica's poor showing at the recent CAC Games - they finished third in their group behind Mexico and Honduras - was a bitter disappointment and that the team will be looking to get back on track.

"The team didn't do as well as we anticipated. They didn't make it through to the second round. We were drawn in a very tough group with Honduras and Mexico so therefore, we played two very tough games. We lost 3-0 to Honduras and then drew with Mexico - who made it through to the final - 1-1," Bailey explained.

Bermuda will meet Jamaica on Boxing Day next Thursday at the National Sports Centre and again on January 1, while the Premier Division league leaders over the festive period will take on the visitors on December 29.