Bermuda's Under-19 assistant cricket coaches Andre and Arnold Manders are brimming with confidence these days. And with a talented crop of promising youngsters at their disposal, who could blame them?

The Island's national youth squad are currently preparing for July's Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in Canada and although attendance at training could be better, according to all reports the youngsters are shaping up well.

Bermuda didn't compete in last year's Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand after finishing runners-up to Canada in the 2001 Americas Youth Tournament held on local soil. Canada defeated Bermuda by 37 runs in the final group match at Somerset Cricket Club to clinch the tournament.

It had been previously understood that six of the Island's youngsters - chosen to represent an Americas Select team - would go on to play in the 2002 World Cup. However, ICC officials later reversed the decision. That distinction, instead, was awarded to eventual Americas Tournament champions Canada.

But the Manders brothers believe Bermuda could qualify for the next World Cup.

"Even though we lost a couple of outstanding batsmen like OJ Pitcher, Stephen Outerbridge and David Lovell I still firmly believe that we can do well in Canada," said an optimistic Andre Manders yesterday.

"We still have a few talented batsmen around like Dion Stovell, Jekon Edness, Allan Douglas Jr, Delyone Borden and Shannon Raynor. In fact, it's a well balanced team that also includes a few players from the previous Under-19 squad."

Although Bermuda's batting may have been depleted somewhat, Manders has confidence in his young bowlers and strongly believes that's where the team's strength lies.

But the coach is still faced with one problem - getting all of his attack bowlers to show up for practice at the same time.

"Our bowling is fairly tight, but we can't get them to come out to practice all at one time. One week we may have up to 15 players turn up for training only to see the numbers drop the following week," added Manders, who is pinning his hopes for success on the likes of fast bowler George O'Brien Jr, Dwia Blyden, Rodney Trott and Jacobi Robinson.

Putting that aside, the former Western Stars player is pleased to see opening batsman Dion Stovell hitting top form with the bat.

Stovell cracked 123 against First Division newcomers Legtrappers in a recent practice match at the National Sports Centre to become the first local cricketer to reach triple digits on the newly laid surface.

Promising Somerset Cricket Club medium pacer Robinson also came good in that match, grabbing four wickets for 25 runs from 7.1 overs.

"I think that Dion (Stovell) is batting well," added Manders. "I haven't really seen any of the other batsmen bat like Dion yet. But I know that they are all very capable of batting better. Who knows . . . after all it's still early days."

Meanwhile, Manders' brother and former senior national team skipper Arnold, has adopted a no-nonsense approach to training.

"There's still quite a bit of work that needs to be done," he said. "I think that we lack some quality spinners and we are going to need some spinners. Our batting is not as deep as it was two years ago.

"Overall I think that this team stands a good chance of making it to the World Cup. But it all depends on them. They need to change their attitudes and work hard. Nothing is given to you without working."