Our soccer has sunk so low, we need fresh and innovative minds to assist the administration in structuring a plan that endorses Bermuda?s football.

Before I state what should be done, I want to thank Kyle Lightbourne and Paul Scope, they did a admiral job considering the administration?s hiccups.

I went to Barbados to cheer Bermuda on, they arrived on Saturday ? a day late. Additionally their accommodations were changed and all this contributed to their weak performance in their game against St. Vincent.

In their next game against Bahamas they really played to their true potential, and in the game against host Barbados ? despite losing goalie Timmy Figureido in the first six minutes ? they outplayed Barbados and should have won. The home fans were shocked and were expecting a two or three goal win because Bermuda had lost to St. Vincent by three goals, while they beat St. Vincent by two goals. Bermuda were truly the better team in this round and should have qualified for the finals in Trinidad. With so much at stake, discounting the money sponsors Digicel were offering, the four teams that reached the semi-finals were Caribbean qualifiers to the 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup in June.

The teams include United States, Canada,Mexico, who had automatic places; the remaining five places will be taken by Central American teams to be decided at a tournament in El Salvador in February.

Most of Bermuda?s players have dreams of playing professionally. At the Gold Cup there will be scouts from the MLS and other leagues. To put Damon Ming comments into a proper perspective, look what the BFA travel arrangements were for the soccer team ? the same as before: leave Bermuda on the Friday and the same thing happens. The flight was delayed and the team missed their connecting flight. Come on, Miami and Puerto Rico are the gate-way to the Carribbean. American AirLines has a direct flight from Bermuda to Miami every Thursday, and if that was not available, the sensible thing would have been to leave Bermuda on the Thursday, because of what took place previously regarding their travel arrangements. I personally think Kyle Lightbourne has a lot to offer to Bermuda football ? he?s still young, played the game at a higher level, was around top coaches and more importantly it?s in his blood.

Plus he has prepared himself in England to come back to Bermuda to take up a position in this field. I truly feel in the next budget, monies will be allotted to the BFA to take Bermuda?s football forward.

Be humble and include Kyle in your plans, he deserves it. Bermuda?s always talking about taking care of their own ? this is the time to prove it.

The final four teams that qualified for the Gold Cup were Cuba, Gualeloupe, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago. Haiti beat Trinidad in the finals 2-1, in front of over 20,000 fans at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Many were expecting an easy win for the hosts, because just a week before they beat Haiti 3-1.

This should put Bermuda?s loss to them in it?s proper perspective.

In the future, the Digicel Cup should be taken more seriously. Out of the eight teams that reached the finals, those that really impressed me were Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, Trinidad and Gualelope. In the future, when monies come aboard, these teams should be targeted to arranged friendlies against.

Before I close, I want to wish the cricket team the best of luck.

Clifford Dillas

Basseterre, St. Kitts