news that the United States Olympic team is attempting to make arrangements for a tour of the island early next year.

The Bermuda squad has been inactive since its historic run in the gruelling World Cup campaign last year when it reached the second round.

Bermuda Football Association president Charlie Marshall last night confirmed that negotiations with the Americans were ongoing and said that the talks were positive and the prospects of the visit materialising was good.

"Yes, their Olympic team wants to visit here between March 26 and April 2, during which time they hope to play two matches. It's all part and parcel of their build-up preparations for the Olympics,'' said Marshall.

He estimated that the Bermuda senior national team, which would also be using the visit for a build-up to the Olympics, will probably be re-assembled for the venture late in January or early in February.

Bermuda is quite familiar with the US Olympic team. The Americans extended an invitation to Bermuda to play them in Florida in June and the result saw the teams deadlocked in a 1-1 draw.

The Americans are restricted to using under-23 players for the Olympics but their rules do allow professionals to be included in the soccer team.

Although no other visits by foreign teams look as certain, the prospects of some World Cup countries using Bermuda as a training ground for the event in the United States next year continue to bring in favourable responses.

The BFA had written a number of prominent countries about the prospects of training here and replies are said to be trickling in with such countries as Ireland and Norway having already indicated an interest.

Norway visited Bermuda back in 1992, taking on the Bermuda squad and ran out handy victors.

With the visit of the American Olympic team virtually certain the BFA's Coaching Committee is looking forward to the New Year with renewed enthusiasm as they intend to implement a busy overall national programme that will feature five squads being assembled at one time.

One of the five will include a senior coach who will hold down a similar position which Gary Darrell occupied during Bermuda's fine run in the World Cup.

"The committee will compile a list of our coaches who have been sent abroad for various courses, it is from this group that people will be chosen to be in charge of the various squads we hope to put together,'' said Marshall.

"We intend to have these teams together on a regular basis as we look ahead to prepare for international events in the future, we are talking about events two to three years down the road that have to be prepared for now.'' There will be a first in local soccer as the BFA plan is to start with a national programme involving youngsters as raw as the bantams.

Meanwhile, local soccer was boosted in another way yesterday with the arrival of its recently appointed Technical Director of Coaching Burkhard Ziese of Germany.

Ziese, who is due to meet the press at 3.30 p.m. today, is only making a preliminary visit to check into living accommodations and to be appraised about his job duties.

He will return home to Germany on December 7 and come back to Bermuda to take on his full-time duties during the first week of January. He will be signing a three-year contract.

CHARLIE MARSHALL -- Negotiations with American Olympic team on a possible tour of Bermuda proceeding well.