Dear Sports Editor,

How the BFA can get more footballers while asking for more money.

In a population where we will always struggle to find enough quality players to field a (sustained) squad of 18 national team players, we cannot afford to put large sums of money into football and continue to allow potentially good young footballers to go untapped, unnoticed and to fall by the wayside.

Why do I say this? Every Saturday morning at the Saltus playing field, there are approximately 60 to 70 pee wees, mini minors, minors or junior boys playing football under a Saltus Football League which is sanctioned by the BFA.

If the BFA is serious about boosting football and being able to pick players from the largest pool possible, then I suggest that they need to have every child who plays football playing under one umbrella or at least in the same league, so they can be seen by all coaches and be more competitive (using the phrase, ?No footballer left behind? would be appropriate in this case). This should happen whether the BFA get more money or not.

More players are just as important. This should be made mandatory for all football. Bermuda is too small to have splinter groups in any sport that competes at the national level. Cal Blankendal said there are 5,600 BFA registered football players.

I hope the sanctioned Saltus League are included in that number and if not, why not. The BFA needs to show that they are doing everything they can to raise footballers and football in this country while they ask for so much money. As a taxpayer who has a serious interest in all sports, please respond to this suggestion.