Parents of the Under-23 soccer players awaiting trial on drug charges yesterday announced plans for a series of fundraising events, including an exhibition game featuring the current Under-23 team, to help foot mounting legal bills.

They also lashed out at a top soccer official for abandoning the young footballers after they were arrested in Miami last month.

They said the bans on the soccer players -- lifetime for international play and seven years for local -- imposed by the Bermuda Football Association were premature and "grossly unfair''.

And they further claimed the players "were victims of what can only be regarded in street terms as a set-up''.

Ms Jene Charles, mother of Donnie Charles, criticised BFA vice-president Mr.

Neville Tyrell for his decision "to leave our sons in Miami unprotected, unassisted and unrepresented in less than adequate conditions''.

The Royal Gazette also came under fire for its "insensitivity''.

Ms Charles said the paper "hounded and harassed us night and day in order to sell their newspapers which consistently contained inaccurate and unreliable information''.

The Royal Gazette was not invited to the Press conference by the parents or their local lawyer, Mr. Delroy Duncan, and learned of its time and location through another source.

At the start of the conference Mr. Duncan laid down "ground rules'' which were simply that no questions would be allowed.

Ms Charles was to read a prepared statement on behalf of all the parents, who lined up with her in Mr. Duncan's offices, in front of ZBM TV cameras.

Afterwards Mr. Duncan declined to comment on the legal costs. Nor would he say if he'd had any contact with the BFA.

Sources have said the players' American lawyer Mr. H.T. Smith has already submitted a hefty bill.

Ms Charles said the BFA held two meetings with parents, and would only agree to support them financially up until December 29, 1994. The BFA originally paid out $27,000 for bail costs and legal fees.

Mr. Duncan did say, however, the players were presently scheduled to appear in court in separate groups on February 6 and 7.

He'd had no word if any progress had been made by Mr. Smith in having the six adults appear together.

The juvenile, 17-year-old Tokia Russell, is to appear February 6 at the Juvenile Justice Centre of Dade County. Shawn Riley, Donnie Charles, Herbert Dillas and Meschach Wade are also to appear that day in adult court.

Kevin Jennings and Keishon Smith would then appear February 7.

Ms Charles said the American lawyer had used "an investigation officer'' and was "extremely optimistic that justice will be served in this case and that those young victims who only wanted to play soccer and represent Bermuda, our homeland, will be exonerated and allowed to return home safely to Bermuda without interference from the local Police''.

She said parents would hold a series of fundraising events over the next couple of weeks under the banner of the "Save our Children Fund''.

As well as the exhibition soccer match, a number of "musical events'' would be staged at soccer clubs around the Island.

Further information would be forthcoming, she said.

Parents of soccer players appeal for funds BFA general secretary Mr. David Sabir could not be reached yesterday to say whether the Association had or would sanction the charity match. He has in the past refused to comment on any aspect of the events in Miami.

Mr. Duncan said the fund was not set up as a registered charity.

The players were arrested December 9 at Miami International Airport on their way back from Jamaica where they'd just qualified for the Pan Am Games.

They face charges of possessing and importing about eight pounds of marijuana and if convicted, the six adults could be sentenced to as long as five years in jail.

Yesterday the Hon. Sir John Sharpe, heading a drugs-in-soccer inquiry, said written responses from the public so far had been poor.

"We haven't had very many responses, about a half dozen,'' said Sir John. He said the Commission of Inquiry had sent out 20 invitations, to soccer officials, including those who were with the team in Jamaica, reporters, Police and Customs officials, and people in social services.

Sir John expected the Commission to wrap up in about three weeks.

PARENTS SPEAK OUT -- Ms Jene Charles reads a statement to the Press yesterday on behalf of the families of the Under-23 players awaiting trial in Miami on drug charges. The conference was held at the offices of lawyer Mr. Delroy Duncan, representing the players' parents.