Time is running out for veteran strikers Shawn Goater and Kyle Lightbourne to make their mark in the soccer's biggest tournament... the World Cup.

The pair will carry a heavy responsibility when Bermuda enter the qualifying competition next year in the build-up to the next World Cup in 2002. But there isn't likely to be much left in their careers a further four years down the road.

Goater, who turns 30 in February, will be 32 when the next World Cup is staged in 2002 and 36 during the 2006 event, while Lightbourne, who is already 31, will almost certainly not be around for 2006.

"When the next World Cup takes place I'll be going on 33,'' Lightbourne pointed out. "I still feel good and it's something I'm looking forward to.'' Lightbourne, who turned professional after the 1992 qualifying campaign, is looking forward to leading the Bermuda attack again with Shawn Goater and to being in the same team as the American-based pros Dwayne (Streaker) Adams, David Bascome and Meshach Wade.

"At that time they were talking about a professional league in the US and now that it's in place there is an opportunity for players to do well and go abroad,'' said the Stoke City striker.

"Also it could raise the standard of football in Bermuda, with people setting different goals. I'll be looking forward to it and hopefully the rest of the lads back home will look forward to it as well.

"If we make it to the Super 12, obviously the standard is going to be very high. But when you get to that stage there are always people watching.'' Already it is seven years since Bermuda enjoyed their most successful run in the World Cup qualifying, reaching the second round before bowing out. Now, thanks to a favourable draw, the country could go as far as the Super 12 stage, which is a round robin stage involving three groups of four on a home and away format.

Lightbourne recalls 1992 when the country was on a high during the team's string of good results which included home wins over both El Salvador and Haiti. Unfortunately the country failed to build on that achievement as a new administration within the BFA decided against entering for qualifying matches for France '98.

"It would be nice to be involved again in the World Cup,'' said Lightbourne.

"The last time was a good thing we had going, but the most disappointing thing was that it didn't get followed up.'' Goater also got excited after hearing the draw and sees no reason why Bermuda can't reach the Super 12 stage.

"Having heard the draw it seems to be set up for us to advance quite far,'' said Goater from his home in Manchester, England.

"We couldn't have asked for a better draw and it's up to us to take advantage of the draw we got. I only hope we are in a position to take advantage of it because in recent months there has been a lot of speculation about Bermuda football... are we on a standstill, are we looking to progress? "With all this in mind an outsider might think that this has come at the wrong time but perhaps this is something that Bermuda football needs to get us back on track and back on that high that we were on in 1992.

"It wasn't a question of whether we would get a great turnout, the crowds were coming because the team was working for one another and there was a good spirit about it all.'' Goater also feels Bermuda didn't capitalise on what happened during the last qualifying campaign. He feels Jamaica's success could have been Bermuda's.

"When the World Cup is mentioned the first thing I think about is Jamaica and, by the grace of God, it could have been Bermuda,'' he stated. "We were only so many games away back in '92.'' Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean team to qualify for the World Cup finals when they made the trip to France in 1998.

"Their national team travels more regularly and plays in big games,'' said Goater. "Those are the rewards that come with it.'' Goater and Lightbourne will be two of the few survivors from the '92 World Cup squad as most of the players have now bowed out of the international scene.

They will be two of the oldest players in the squad.

"Kyle could be the grandfather of the squad!'' says Goater who was the joker in the pack in the national team.

"I just hope the breed coming through who are going to be involved are as dedicated, committed and will look to enjoy it.''