re-entry into the Shell Caribbean Cup in February, including naming a new coach and the reforming of the national squad.

Not since the World Cup qualifying campaign in 1992 have the senior national team been together for a major tournament. And following the country's decision not to enter the 1998 World Cup, the return to the Shell Caribbean Cup after a five-year absence appears to be a popular one.

"We're doing the groundwork,'' assured David Sabir, general secretary of the BFA, yesterday.

"I would venture to say that in the next few days we will have more definitive plans for participation in the Caribbean's most prestigious competition.'' Sabir visited Trinidad recently with BFA president Neville Tyrrell for the Caribbean Football Association's meeting of presidents and returned with the news that the country had been re-admitted.

It is expected now that Bermuda will bid to form a stronger affiliation with the CFU. The country made its one and only appearance in the competition as an associate member five years ago under then president Donald Dane.

The qualifying for next summer's final in St. Kitts/Nevis (June 27 to July 6) begins in February when Bermuda will travel to the Cayman Islands for their Group Two matches against Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Caymans.

It is anticipated the matches will be played between February 12 and 19.

The winners of that group will then meet the winners of Group Six (Haiti, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles and Dominican Republic) on April 20 at a venue in the Caribbean still to be decided. The eventual winners of that match will qualify for the finals which will involve two groups of three.

"It's a very exciting period for us in association football,'' said Sabir.

"We are looking down the road in terms of establishing a programme that once brought the entire community together, as you saw in the World Cup.

"Many say this (lack of participation) is the reason why we have seen a downturn in performance and behaviour, because there may not be a national programme in place to which our players can aspire. That has merit and we have to look at it in full context of our entire football programme.'' The bulk of any squad being put together is likely to come from the World Cup qualifying campaign and the under-23 team from two years ago which qualified for the Pan-Am Games in Argentina after beating Jamaica in Kingston with an extra-time goal from Raynel Lightbourne.

Professional strikers Shawn Goater and Kyle Lightbourne will obviously be approached while the relative inactivity of number one goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams this season could pave the way for someone like Vasco's Timmy Figureido to claim that spot.

The defence is almost certain to contain the reliable Kentoine Jennings in the middle though spots at full back and in midfield could be up for grabs.