Last minute generosity, and some rule-bending by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), means Bermuda will be sending a team to compete in the Davis Cup after all.

Short of the $13,000 needed to send the five-man team to the American Zone Group Four tournament in April, the Island risked missing out on tennis? highest level team competition for the first time in nine years.

But 11th hour donations from a Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) member and Government have ensured captain Steve Bean and players James Collieson, Jenson Bascome, Jovan Whitter and Gavin Manders will be on April 1 flights to Costa Rica for the event.

?This is great news, it?s wonderful,? a delighted BLTA president David Lambert said yesterday.

?For Bermuda to be able to compete in the Davis Cup is very important for tennis on the Island and the Island in general and we are very grateful to the sponsors who have come forward.

?After the story appeared in we have been swamped by calls from people angry, surprised and disappointed that it looked like we were going to be unable to send teams.

?But the sponsorship has been forthcoming from a very important BLTA member, who has asked not to be named and we will respect that, and through Dale Butler, our Sports Minister.

?This sponsorship is gratefully received and we hope now to make the most of the event.?

It is understood Government provided the best part of $10,000 to the overall costs.

And Lambert was adamant that despite the well-publicised uncertainty over the team?s participation in the tournament, all the players were training hard in preparation for the event and would be competing to the best of their abilities.

Bermuda?s finest will take on hosts Costa Rica, Barbados, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Guatemala and St. Lucia on the hard courts of the Cariari Country Club in Heredia with the top two teams earning promotion to Division Three.

The squad leave Bermuda on April 1 for the round robin competition, but only thanks to the ITF?s commitment to the Island.

Lambert confirmed the sport?s governing body had been flexible with the deadline for entry in order to accommodate Bermuda?s cash crisis ? something that has saved the Island from facing a ban from next year?s event as punishment for a last-minute withdrawal.

The whole funding crisis arose after the sport?s governing body on the Island was hit hard by the ITF?s withdrawal of team funding in recent years which has left the local association to foot virtually the entire bill.

The ITF used to give full travel and full accommodation at tournaments plus a $3,000 equipment allowance for sneakers, team uniform and and racquet strings ? they now only give 50 percent of travel.

But in spite of the cash boost, only the Davis Cup team will compete with Bermuda still unable to field a women?s team for the Fed(eration) Cup, due to take place in Bahai, Brazil, at the end of next month, for other reasons.

Tara Lambert, Zarah DeSilva and the Fisher triplets (Zoe, Kara and Sasha) were all unavailable for selection due to collegiate tennis commitments on those dates ? leaving only Ashley Brooks.

Meanwhile, the three junior teams scheduled to represent Bermuda this year are not affected by the cash woes thanks to strong financial support for junior tennis. The Island?s junior Davis and Fed Cup teams will compete in El Salvador next month (rescheduled from Haiti because of political unrest there) while the under-14 squad will play in the Caribbean Championships in August.