Bermuda Regiment Lt. Colonel Eddie Lamb yesterday declared an all-out war on absentees who have repeatedly failed to turn up for duty but continue to play soccer.

Lamb made the announcement yesterday following a post-match incident at Devonshire Recreation Club last Friday night when Devonshire Cougars and North Village played to a 5-5 draw.

Military police showed up at the match to arrest both Cougars 'keeper Ricardo Brangman and team-mate Kyjuan Saltus for failing to attend camp.

Brangman is reported to have eluded military personnel following the final whistle while Dill made an early exit from the ground during the half-time interval.

Lamb said that if both players turned themselves in voluntarily then they could avoid sterner punishment.

"Part of the reason why Ricardo (Brangman) let in five goals was probably because he knew that the army was after him and when he saw the military police on the sidelines it made him jittery," said Lamb yesterday.

"And after the match he ran up into the crowd into the company of all his little boy friends.

"He's been absent now for well over a year and I can see that by just watching him on the TV last night (Sunday) that he has grown a crop on his head.

"They also tell me that Kyjuan Saltus faked an injury at half-time and cut a trail over the fence - he's another long term absentee."

Lamb said that he had spoken to the players' coach Albert Smith and reminded both that they had a legal obligation to fulfil with their country.

"If they can play football they can also soldier," added Lamb.

"So the new sheriff in town is now after them. We talked to their coaches this morning and they in return said that they will try to get them to come in today.

"If they do voluntarily turn themselves in then they stand a better chance of not going to jail.

"If a man shows up and makes the effort and then realises the folly of his ways and comes into camp voluntarily, I show leniency upon him since he has made that option. I will give them a second chance. But if I have to go and look for them and drag them into Warwick Camp then that changes the entire scenario.

"I've had several cases in which a soldier has realised that the army is out looking for them and they turned themselves in and we in turn have dealt with them differently.

"But if we have to use up a lot of time and energy trying to find someone then they will have to feel the long arm of the law."

Both Brangman and Saltus are due to line up for Cougars in tonight's important Martonmere Cup semi-final match against Devonshire Colts at the Den.