the national programme now that foreign opposition has been lined up.

With Antigua's senior national team set to arrive on the Island next week followed shortly afterwards by the Danish Under-21 national squad, Bermuda's Director of Coaching, Clyde Best, said yesterday that local players now had no excuses to miss training.

"The incentive is there for them to come out and train. I say to them let's climb aboard and get the programme rolling.

"Players can no longer say that there is nothing out there in the form of competition and therefore there is no reason to train. We now have something confirmed with these two tours, so it's important for them to come out.'' Much to the delight of Best, Bermuda Football Association have finally been able to persuade countries to visit the Island with Antigua and the young Danish side prepared to play a minimum of two games each.

While the BFA are still in the process of finalising the schedule, both Best and BFA coaching chairman Jon Beard believe the stage is set for a solid build-up towards the next international commitments for both the senior national squad and the Under-23s.

The senior squad will use their matches against the tourists as preparation for the Shell Umbro Cup while the Under-23s will prepare for their Olympic Games qualifier in the Spring.

"The BFA has worked hard to get teams here for a while. One of the concerns has been the National Stadium, which has been unavailable, and air space for travelling,'' said Beard.

"We have been trying for ages to get a schedule for our national programme, trying to get a game a month. We have been working with clubs and national squads all over the world but it's been very difficult.'' According to Beard, it is vital for the various national teams to have ongoing programmes so that the junior players coming up can see the higher level of soccer and consequently have something to aim for themselves.

Although several countries have been invited to play on the Island, Beard said the BFA were most concerned with the quality of opposition.

And Best agreed that it was difficult to maintain the interest of players without putting a match schedule in place.

"I think the tours are something that are overdue,'' said Best. "I have always stressed the only way we are going to do better is by playing foreign opposition...we must play them constantly, not once every three years.

"You play, gauge your performances and then play again and you look to see how you are making progress.'' Best was scheduled to meet with the Under-23 players last night and planned to arrange their first training session for Saturday. One drawback, however, is that some of the players are returning to school abroad although Best has already notified them about the importance of keeping in good shape for the Olympic qualifier.

"We are all excited about the two incoming tours, they will give myself and the coaches a good chance to look at a wide range of players,'' he said.

Next Wednesday and Friday had been pencilled in as the days for the two Antigua tour matches, but BFA general secretary David Sabir said those dates would likely be changed because a Friday match would clash with the popular Bank of Butterfield Mile races on Front Street.

Bermuda and Antigua last met in World Cup qualifying in 1992 when Bermuda won 3-0 in Antigua and then beat Antigua 2-1 in the return leg to advance to the second round.