The Bermuda International Football Festival has gone global. The non-profit organisation, headed up by chairman Rick Richardson, has delivered on its promise to add an international flavour to the festival with under-19 players from the West Ham United Academy and the Azores Football Association Academy both taking part in this year’s event.

The two academies will play in a four-team round-robin tournament also featuring the Bermuda Football Association Academy.

Teams from the Netherlands and the United States have also shown interests in competing in the tournament.

“Because we’re really trying to motivate our young men in particular and give them something positive, I ran some ideas by Shaun Goater [BIFF committee member] that we should be really concentrating on our young people and getting academies here rather than having masters from different countries like we were going to and he agreed,” Richardson said.

“I then pushed for West Ham because Clyde Best [also a BIFF committee member] has good relationships with them. It was with a view that they would be engaged in a round-robin event with the BFA Academy and the Azores Academy. The young men coming from overseas are bordering on the first team so the standard is quite good.

“Clyde has really pushed for us to develop something here that is sustainable and not just a one off. He’s big on the development of the game and he sees a bright new wave of players coming through and believes the timing is great for us to develop this tournament. He believes it’s a good time to broaden this festival and have the community and the Government get behind it.

“I’ve had great talks with the Minister of Social Development and Sport Michael Weeks. He’s excited about the development, particularly with the inclusion of the Azores knowing our history here and with a view to involving our diverse communities.”

Another highlight of the week long festival is the East versus West match involving select teams consisting of players from across the island, whether they are registered BFA players or not.

The BIFF will be held at the National Stadium from May 7 through 13 and is sanctioned by the BFA.

Part of the proceeds will be distributed to various local charities such as Life-Through-Sport, who are also helping to organise the festival.

“[Life Through Sport] have endorsed this and they will be assisting in our organisation with the tournament,” Richardson added.

“They are really gung-ho as it fits in line with their mission, not just to raise money for scholarships, but to engage our young men in particular in a meaningful way.”