Bermuda has long held amicable ties with the Instituto Brasileiro de Futebol (BFUT).

In 1993 local BFUT affiliate Curtis DeGraff - father of North Village winger Devaughn - was introduced to top Brazilian instructor Thadeu Goncalves by former Village and Boulevard midfielder Andrew Bascome.

Goncalves then toured Bermuda a year later where he first observed some of the Island’s potential in terms of individual skill and natural talent among its youth players.

And since then the Brazilian has remained in touch with a small band of Bermudians, among them DeGraff and fellow BFUT member Eugene Joell.

“I’ve known Thadeu for the past 12 years and kept in contact with him ever since,” DeGraff said.

Over the years DeGraff has been instrumental in making provisions for the likes of Damon Ming, Joey Rego, Shayne Hollis and son Devaughn to work with Goncalves in Brazil.

DeGraff said he has long wanted to see the standards of local football raised. And by joining ranks with the BFUT, the former goalie reckons he can play his part in the resurrection of the sport domestically.

“I’ve always wanted to see local football played on a higher level,” DeGraff said. “I went to the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) and tried to get them to have Thadeu assist in some capacity, but they didn’t buy into it.”

Undaunted, DeGraff eventually discovered light at the end of the tunnel in the form of Joell who held a similar concept in mind.

“Eventually I realised Eugene (Joell) and I were on the same wave length and we so we approached Thadeu - it was like a marriage of ideas,” he added.

The Brazilian was recently on the Island discussing possible means of generating funds to subsidise an ambitious four-year programme that falls under the auspices of the BFUT that will better prepare local footballers for the college and professional levels.

There are also plans to appoint a board of directors to oversee the handling of funds and to also have the programme registered locally as a charity.

“Our goal is to make the programme as professional as we possibly can to ensure everything is carried out in the proper manner,” DeGraff added.