attraction, kicks off its 16th campaign tonight at Devonshire Rec. field with new champions already certain to be crowned after the final ball is kicked on New Year's Day at Wellington Oval.

Boulevard, the league leaders, and North Village, who ended the first half of the season in second place, will begin the tournament as the favourites.

However, Devonshire Colts and Dandy Town certainly cannot be dismissed as serious contenders.

All four participating teams have won the trophy, which was put up in the 1978-79 season in memory of the former Bermuda Football Association director.

"I think with four teams all beating each other it could be anybody's tournament,'' Dandy Town coach Mark Trott said yesterday. `The first game is very important.'' Town will take on Boulevard in tonight's feature match at 9.00 while Devonshire Colts meet North Village in the 7.00 opener.

Town inflicted the only league defeat on Boulevard, back on October 10, but while Boulevard have gone from strength to strength since then, former leaders Town have faded lately with losses to North Village and St. George's.

Top scorer Carlos Smith and midfielder Pernell Douglas were both missing on the weekend, Smith because of chicken pox and Douglas due to a thigh strain.

Trott expected to know more about the status of both players last night but was confident the pair would be available for the tournament.

"I'm not worried too much because I think we have a lot of depth,'' said Trott. "If I have to go with other players I'll feel confident in those players.

"One of our goals was to make Dudley Eve, so we'll talk a lot more about that tonight, but I'm pretty sure we'll take it serious.'' Colts, the first winners of the cup when they beat North Village in the two-leg final, are confident of their chances of a third title going into their match with the Red Devils even though they still have injury problems.

Craig Smith has not played since before the Martonmere Cup final because of a knee injury while defender Keenan Burchall suffered a knee injury in the final and will require surgery, according to coach Lorenzo Symonds.

Smith is not expected back until next month. Defender Anthony Wilson, who was injured in a pre-season match with Somerset, has not played so far but could be out in the New Year.

"We're still going to be not as strong as we can be,'' said Symonds yesterday. "The team that we have been playing is not supposed to be our strongest team but they got us to Dudley Eve and we haven't lost since the Martonmere Cup final.

"The only thing is we're not playing to the standard we know we can. Last year and the year before we performed well and the results were coming.'' Jay Bean, who was sent off in the Martonmere Cup final against Boulevard has served a three-match ban while Leonard Hypolite, who was away last weekend, is back to strengthen the Colts defence.

Dudley Eve Trophy schedule Tonight: Devonshire Colts v North Village (7.00); Boulevard v Dandy Town (9.00). Matches at Devonshire Rec. field.

Boxing Day: Matches at 1.00 and 3.00 at Somerset Cricket Club.

December 28: Losers' semifinal at BAA field at 3 p.m.

December 30: Final, first leg, at PHC Stadium at 8 p.m.

January 1: Final, second leg, at Wellington Oval at 2.30 p.m.

Commercial Division rivals Somerset Extros and North Village Rams are set to put on a show under the lights at the west end tomorrow night (8 p.m.) in the inaugural Silvio and Emmanuel Tricerri Trophy.

The match will feature a host of former Bermuda internationals and other stars of the past. Some of the names are Ralph (Gumbo) Bean, Arthur Bean and Cal Dill for Rams and Gary Darrell, George Brangman and Dwaine Richardson of Extros.

Silvio and Emmanuel are both transplanted Scotsmen originally hailing from Argentina, who decided to sponsor the event for two clubs that have displayed a vested interest in running effective youth programmes.

A prize presentation will immediately follow the match. Also, a $2 donation will be asked at the gate to go toward youth development in the sport.

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