weekend when they came up with the cash to pay for live coverage of Bermuda's all-important World Cup soccer game against Haiti. But what an 11th hour scramble it was.

Colonial's managing director Mr. Alan Peacock, who is also chairman of the BFA's international tours committee, was hosting a party the night before the game when he took a late phone call from ZBM and agreed to help meet the costs of the coverage.

But the television company ignored a specific request from the soccer-mad businessman that no Colonial adverts should appear during play because he did not want to miss any of the action.

The result? While Shawn Goater was scoring Bermuda's only goal, television viewers were treated to an advert showing Colonial's Business Development Manager Mr. William Madeiros.

ZBM's coverage came in for further criticism when commentator Mr. Rick Richardson demonstrated he did not know the rules of the competition as he repeatedly told viewers in the second half that the game was about to go to extra-time.

No-one was more surprised than Mr. Richardson when, at the final whistle, Bermuda's players started hugging each other in victory -- by virtue of the away goals rule.

FORTE TO SELL BUC Forte to sell British hotel group Forte Plc., which owns the Belmont, Bermudiana and Harmony Hall hotels, is holding talks with two other companies about selling its catering arm, a deal share analysts said would be worth more than 500 million British pounds ($910 million).

The potential buyers are caterers Compass Group Plc and ARA Services Inc., part of US-based ARA Group.

Forte is expected to use the money from the sale of its catering business, its best performing division recently, to fund expansion in its European hotel business.

"Forte's declared strategic direction is to build internationally in the hotel and restaurant business,'' said a company spokeswoman.

The catering division lifted trading profits 18 percent in 1991/92 to 47 million pounds (nearly $86 million). The result was in sharp contrast to its bigger hotels business, where trading profit slid 53 percent to 159 million pounds ($290 million).

Forte's group pre-tax profits fell 62 percent to 73 million pounds ($133 million), a result it blamed on recession and the Gulf War.