celebration, Clyde Best was quietly making arrangements of his own.

BFA president Neville Tyrrell confirmed last night that Best, currently in Miami awaiting the arrival of the senior national squad, was expected to arrange a friendly match for Tuesday, ahead of the Shell Cup tournament in the Cayman Islands beginning three days later.

It was not immediately known who the opposition would be but Best, travelling with the national under-20 squad, has several connections in Florida from his professional days.

The under-20s -- coming off a 0-0 draw and 1-0 victory over the Cayman Island juniors -- arrive home today without Best, who will remain in Miami.

The senior squad will officially be named today after the BFA were forced to make "one or two last-minute changes'' due to injuries, Tyrrell said.

For the first time in five years, the squad is expected to include the names of Bermuda's two England-based pros, Kyle Lightbourne and Shawn Goater. One of them is likely to be named team skipper, although Tyrrell said the captain will not be confirmed until after the team's training session tomorrow.

Lightbourne and Goater, who have not represented their country since Bermuda's 1992 World Cup qualifiers, play a critical First Division match with their respective clubs, Stoke and Manchester City, on Sunday before hooking up with their new team-mates.

Bermuda meet the Cayman Islands next Friday night and Cuba on Sunday, the team's first games since a pair of close losses to Jamaica in a tournament last year.

Best saw the Cayman Islands team play and train this week while with the under-20s. He has studied film of Cuba from their appearance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament in February.

Tyrrell said he also saw Cuba play in person at the same event.

"I was very impressed with them but I feel we're up to the challenge,'' said Tyrrell, adding he was "very optimistic'' the team could advance to the next round this summer in either Trinidad or Jamaica. "Cuba will be the bigger challenge, although the Caymans will be a challenge in their own right.'' Tyrrell made the remarks during a press conference yesterday to announce Unity Day, a series of events on May 23 to commemorate the BFA's 70th anniversary.

Why now? "It seemed like an opportune time,'' said Tyrrell. "Football is going through changes and we feel there is a need to focus on the positive aspects.'' "Who's to say I, or anyone else, will be here for a 75th anniversary.'' The concept came about last October as a means to promote the sport and "move away from the divisive and increasingly negative aspects of society,'' Tyrrell said.

Former BFA president Dr. Gerard Bean met with representatives from churches, unions, schools, the Regiment and other groups and the result is a wide-ranging programme to be held at the Bermuda National Centre.

"We want to reach a wide cross-section of the community,'' said Bean. "We don't want anybody to stand on the sidelines. This community needs everyone to get involved.'' While Unity Day is about soccer, there will not be any matches played. The only sports-related activities will be introductions of the senior, under-20 and under-17 national teams and a salute to the 1967 Pan-Am Games team which won a silver medal.