North Village player/coach Kentoine Jennings isn?t ready to bow out of international football just yet.

Thirty two year-old Jennings, currently sidelined with an injured left ankle, has declined an offer to join Bermuda?s national squad set to begin preparations for next month?s Copa Caribe Cup competition in the Cayman Islands.

But he isn?t ruling out a comeback at some point in the future.

The re-occurring injury flared up during Village?s 2-1 Charity Cup triumph over Dandy Town two weeks ago, forcing the former Hereford United professional out of his team?s Martonmere Cup Group A clash with the Hornets earlier this week.

This, combined with a heavy workload as player/coach at Bernard Park, ultimately led to the decision not to train with the national team under new coach Kyle Lightbourne, explained Jennings, who captained Bermuda during the World Cup qualifying campaign earlier this year.

?At this stage in my career anything is possible. But I wouldn?t say my international career is over . . . I might have another year or so in me as far as international football is concerned,? he said.

?At the moment my hands are full (coaching Village) and I?m also injured. But as long as I can still play the game at a decent level then I don?t think I can throw in the towel just yet.?

Jennings, who also enjoyed a successful playing stint at now defunct Vasco da Gama in the 1990s, is a veteran of three World Cup qualifying campaigns and has represented Bermuda on numerous occasions.

?When my body can?t get to that level anymore then I think the decision (retirement from international football) will be made at that point in time,? he added.

The Village stalwart is suffering from tendinitis to his left ankle, an injury which he believes would have ruled him out of the national team anyway.

Baltimore-based professional David Bascome, recalled to national team duty, is also recovering from an injury to his left knee which required surgery.

And like Bascome, Jennings is racing against the clock to regain match fitness in time for the October 3 start of the 2004-05 league season.

?I?m trying to get myself ready for the league and also continue coaching at Village,? he added. ?But I don?t think my international career is over yet. Next month I will be 33 and so I still consider myself young.

?I have been around (playing football) for a very long time. So I guess in football years I can consider myself old. But I don?t think I?ll be around for the next World Cup campaign . . . players today are very young in this sport and getting stronger and stronger. Domestically, if everything goes according to plan, I guess I still have a few years left ? but you can never be sure of that.?

Meanwhile, former Bermuda captains Shannon Burgess and Dwayne (Streaker) Adams were also left out of Lightbourne?s initial training squad which totals some 37 players.

However, the new national coach has made it clear ?the door is still open for others to join in the future?.

Burgess is understood to be currently working overseas while Adams ? still regarded by some as the Island?s premier ?keeper ? saw action earlier this week for club team Southampton Rangers against Devonshire Cougars in a Martonmere Cup Group B clash.