"pipedream'' for Bermuda to think it could reach the World Cup finals any time soon.

The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) is taking steps to raise the standard of coaching in the Island by having prospective coaches certified by the 1995-1996 season.

And Ziese was particularly perturbed by the inference that coaching improvements could place Bermuda amongst the world's elite in time for the 1998 finals in France.

"For Bermuda to make it to the finals of the World Cup is not possible...it is a pipe dream.

"There are too many countries out there with millions of people compared to this small island. What we want to do is to make sure that we play proper football here.'' Backing up this point was BFA administrative assistant David Sabir.

"The intent of it all is to develop,'' he said. "Secondly, we want to give some credibility to association football and that not anybody and everybody is out there coaching and giving bad instructions.'' For the first time the BFA is offering the opportunity for any interested parties to obtain a grade `C' level coaching certificate without having to leave the country.

As a prerequisite for sitting the examination -- to be held in either August or September -- there will be a refresher course, which will be administered by technical director Burkhard Ziese, who possesses both `A' and `B' football-teacher licences from the German Football Association.

It is hoped that the course will eliminate what is perceived to be an abundance of "misinformation'' being handed out to today's current crop of players, both senior and junior.

"We are very aware that right now anyone that wants to coach can coach and we don't want that,'' said Ziese. "What we want to do is help everyone gain knowledge and a better understanding of the game and how to coach.'' Currently, only two persons possess a full coaching badge -- Jon Beard and Carlton (Pepe) Dill -- while Gary Darrell and Fred Lewis have a preliminary badge obtained in England.

However, even they will need to be re-evaluated as the BFA will require coaches to have licences renewed on a biennial basis.