professionals Shawn Goater and Kyle Lightbourne will not be on the team competing in the Shell/Umbro Cup next month in Jamaica.

So far the availability of only one of the four overseas pros has been confirmed, with David Bascome due to return from his indoor club in the United States on February 12. Efforts are still being made to try to contact Paul Cann, who has joined a new club in the US.

"I feel it is in the best interest of the players (Goater and Lightbourne) that we don't interfere with them at this time,'' said Aldwyn Savery, chairman of the coaching committee of the BFA.

"Whereas their managers didn't say they can't come back we feel it's best to leave them alone for the sake of their careers. We have a very cordial relationship with their managers.'' Both Goater's Bristol City and Lightbourne's Walsall are in the hunt for promotion in the Second Division. Goater missed his team's last match with a broken jaw and may also miss Saturday's match. Savery has not ruled out the players being available should Bermuda qualify for the tournament proper in April.

About 40 players were chosen to train under new coach Clyde Best, himself a professional player in England in the 1970s, but response to training has been somewhat disappointing with only about 11 players having a perfect attendance.

Others, for various reasons, have not been attending regularly.

Some of those who are showing keen interest are the three goalkeepers Timmy Figureido, Dwayne Adams and Troy Hall while the likes Kentoine Jennings and Leroy Stevens, despite injuries, have also attended regularly.

So, too, have the new additions to the national squad setup like Michael Hansey of North Village, PHC's Enwar Hunt, a late inclusion at Best's request, and Dano Outerbridge, Dwight Warren, Neil Paynter, Carlos Smith, Shawn Smith and Mark Ray, Clifford Roberts and Lionel Furbert who are all firemen.

Others who have shown commitment include Shannon Burgess, who was a regular before going abroad on work related business, Neil Robinson and Reggie Tucker.

Sammy Swan, another late inclusion, has been showing up despite being injured while another former member of the Bermuda World Cup squad, Elliott Jennings, is also about to be extended an invitation to join the squad.

But Somerset Eagles player-coach Kemmy Thompson has pulled out because of his commitment to youth coaching. He was the first player added to the squad after the original list was named.

"I talked to Best about it and he understands my situation, it's simply too much for me to handle at the present time,'' said Thompson this week.

"I am more into coaching right now and consequently cannot find the suitable time to commit myself to the sqaud. But I do appreciate their invitation.''