National football coach Kyle Lightbourne has pinned Bermuda?s Under-20 World Cup qualifying hopes on a pacy attack.

And in speedsters Ian Coke, Angelo Simmons, Shakir Smith, Cecoy Robinson, Shayne Hollis and Keishen Bean, Lightbourne believes his team have the necessary pace and skill to outwit what he anticipates will be very ?physical? defences in the Caribbean.

?I?m expecting that our opponents in the Caribbean will be technically good and quick. But we have the same sort of players who for their age are strong and also quick,? said the coach.

And it is these two key components the former English pro will be relying on to carry his team through to the next round of the qualifiers.

Lightbourne left Toronto yesterday ? after having discussions with United Soccer League (USL) officials ? to join Bermuda?s delegation in Haiti and finalise preparations for tomorrow?s crucial opener against the host nation at the Stade Saint Marc.

Bermuda then meet Jamaica in their second qualifying group match on Thursday at the same venue before closing out against Netherlands Antilles in their final qualifier on Saturday at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince.

Bermuda?s 25 member delegation ? headed by Bermuda Football Association (BFA) Referees Committee chairman Lee Holder ? left for the Caribbean yesterday.

?Our team have a lot of pace and if we can use that pace to our advantage, then nine times out of ten we should be able to create opportunities,? Lightbourne continued.

?And if we can put away our opportunities then I think we stand a good chance because we have probably picked the most talented bunch of players at that age level ? all of whom either play Premier or First Division football domestically.

?These are all up and coming footballers who stand a very good chance of being involved with the senior national team in years to come. And I?m quite happy with a lot of them, and happy also with the progress they have made.?

Bermuda?s Under-20 squad underwent four changes to the one that competed in the US Virgin Islands last July, Boulevard?s Coke and Somerset Trojans? Cofield Robinson, Patric Castle and Trevin Ming having all been added to the roster.

North Village forward Bean will again wear the captain?s armband.

Bean, Boulevard striker Simmons and Village?s Thomas Watson were all members of Bermuda?s Under-17 national squad that qualified for the first round of the Under-17 World Cup in Havana, Cuba in 2002.

?When you look at players such as Angelo Simmons and Keishen Bean . . . these are two of the most outstanding players in their age group,? Lightbourne said.

Only six months ago Bean became the youngest local footballer on a Triple Crown winning team since Clyde Best in 1967-68.

Bermuda face a baptism of fire tomorrow against host country Haiti, one of two key matches coach Lightbourne hopes to take valuable points from.

?Our main goal is to pick something off the host nation or Jamaica and then try and capitalise on our last game (against Netherland Antilles),? he said.

Asked how he felt about having to play tough back-to-back matches against Haiti and Jamaica, Lightbourne replied: ?At least we should be fresh . . . and so that could be a good thing because as the games go on things tend to get tougher and tougher.

?Three games in a short period of time played in a lot of heat . . . we are hoping, especially in the first game against Haiti, we can try and get something from that game which in turn would be a big boost for us.?

As for the environment and widespread poverty in Haiti, Lightbourne, who toured the country in 1992 as a member of Gary Darrell?s senior national team, noted: ?It will be a culture shock to some of the players, if not all of them. But it?s just a way of life and something they are not used to.?

If there?s one obstacle that concerns Lightbourne most, then it?s the fact event organisers have scheduled all matches miles apart from each other.

?Two games are being played like a hundred miles away and so we are going to have to figure out some way to have a look at the other two teams (Jamaica and Netherlands Antilles),? the coach added.

This could mean that assistant coach Paul Scope ? who has been closely assessing the composition of each team via the internet ? could be asked to watch Jamaica?s opening match against Netherlands Antilles on Tuesday instead.

?We have talked about the possibility of Paul (Scope) going to attend that particular game because it would give us the opportunity to assess both of the teams we will be playing next,? Lightbourne added.

?But once we arrive in Haiti we will see what it is like and whether it?s feasible for us to do it.?: Sean Perinchief, Marquel Waldron, Jade Foggo, Keishen Bean (captain), Angelo Simmons, Ian Coke, Dunn-Ya Taylor, Jason Smith, Thomas Watson, McQuinn Burch, Ajani Gibbons, Shakir Smith, Shayne Hollis, Reggie Baker, Cofield Robinson, Patric Castle, Clyde Darrell, Cecoy Robinson, Trevin Ming, Norris Wilkinson. Officials: Lee Holder (head of delegation), Kyle Lightbourne (coach), Paul Scope (assistant coach), Gary Ray (equipment manager), Daniel Morgan (team physio).