was this past week.

"Candy Lee who?'' An air of mild shock and wonderment spread along the sports desk when the Island's Female Athlete of the Year was announced last Thursday.

For talented though she may be, Candy Lee Foggo was very possibly the last name on our lips when discussion on just who might take the prestigious award was held.

"Bodybuilding -- a sport?'' was one of the oft-said phrases as we tried to comprehend why the powers that be had decided to make the award.

Indeed, I hear there was a mild avalanche in the New Hampshire area when our erstwhile sports editor got drift of the news while on the piste.

What made matters worse was that not only had Foggo lifted the award, but three of the 14 winners were from the same sphere.

Now before my phone starts ringing with irate behemoths threatening all manner of destruction upon my 10-stone wet-through frame, I must point out that I have no bone to pick with Ms Foggo personally. I, in fact, held off from writing this for a week in order that she enjoy her moment in the spotlight.

There is no doubt she is a talent in her chosen field, but there were many, many more potential and more obvious recipients for the award out there representing a diverse group of mainstream sports.

Bodybuilding cannot be put in that category and indeed no lesser tome than the Oxford Dictionary would seem to agree.

It defines it as "exercises to enlarge and strengthen the muscles''. These are motions that a great many sportsmen and women go through, admittedly to a lesser extent, but at the end of the day they are still only exercises.

Dedication or no dedication, posing on a podium cannot be compared to sweating it out on a football field, busting a gut over 100 metres or traversing the ocean waves.

I would be happy for people to write in and tell me that I am wrong, that indeed it should be given recognition up there with the likes of tennis, equestrianism or cycling, but if a straw poll conducted among some of the Island's sporting luminaries is representative of the Island as a whole then I guess I won't be calling on Ms Foggo to carry my mail sack to my desk.

***** THERE is a saying in England that suggests that some people would have difficulty getting drunk in a place known for the production of alcoholic beverages.

For those people, read the soccer authorities on three Caribbean Islands.

Our own Football Association has been made to suffer at the hands of the Cayman, Antiguan and Barbadian football federations in recent months.

Firstly the Caymans decided they couldn't stage a qualifying round of the Under-17 World Cup and then at the 11th hour changed their minds and brought the dates forward.

This ruled out Bermuda's participation and only through behind-the-scenes negotiations by the BFA did they get a satisfactory conclusion to the farce -- a bye to the next round.

Then Barbados offered to and then pulled out of hosting the next phase -- Bermuda eventually stepping in after their original offer was turned down.

Then last week the dates for the forthcoming Copa Carib were changed as a result of a cock-up by the Antiguan hosts who found the Recreation Ground double-booked for both football and cricket.

Once again it led to Bermuda pulling out, but as the Island has yet to appoint a coach and get a team together it was probably for the best.

Now we at the Gazette are often accused of unduly criticising the BFA. This is of course hogwash, but just to prove I mean what I say this is the point where they get the praise they deserve.

The aforementioned football associations could have done far worse than call in on last week's under-17 festival to see just how a proper tourney should be run.

I'm sure like a swan on the water while it looked serene on the surface it was all go beneath but barring the little fracas in the hotel matters went off without incident, matches were played with the minimum of fuss and supporters got true value for money.

The BFA, sponsors, the teams themselves and the myriad of faceless individuals who helped make the week such a success should all take a well-deserved bow.

Hopefully that should keep me in their good books for a few weeks at least.

-- MATT WESTCOTT BODYBUILDER BOD