BERMUDA Football Association's decision to scrap the Dudley Eve Trophy competition this Christmas and replace it with a three-match incoming tour by Jamaica has received mixed reaction - sadly more negative than positive.

Many of the Premier Division clubs apparently feel that by doing away with the four-team tournament, those who might have qualified are being denied the chance to raise much-needed funds.

Traditionally, the festive competition has proved to be one of local soccer's most lucrative.

Now, any money raised from the Jamaican tour will go directly into BFA coffers rather than to the clubs themselves.

But if the clubs do feel aggrieved, theirs might be seen as a rather short-sighted and narrow-minded reaction.

Not for the first time, some of them seem far more concerned about their own well being than the overall development of the game.

It's a familiar story of club before country.

As BFA vice-president Robert Calderon pointed out, the idea of the incoming tour is to expose our players to a better standard of play.

The only way the game in Bermuda can improve, at both international and club level, is by playing against and learning from better opposition.

Bermuda's senior players will never improve by playing each other week in, week out in the same competitions.

The Jamaicans have tasted success at the highest level - it was only four years ago that they qualified for the World Cup finals - and along with Trinidad are probably considered the best squad in the Caribbean.

We can learn from their players and we need to forge closer relationships with those countries in the CONCACAF region who have enjoyed success on the international stage.

Tours such as that arranged by the BFA this month are important and necessary if we're serious about raising standards and improving our world ranking.

From the spectator's point of view, it's also important that the BFA provide more variety.

While a drop in standards and escalating violence both on and off the field has contributed to a steady decline in attendance, it could also be argued that fans have become disenchanted with the same diet of domestic competition.

Incoming tours can be expensive, but history shows that some of the most memorable matches played in Bermuda have been those involving visiting clubs and countries. Their arrival invariably generates far more interest among the fringe spectator who wouldn't normally turn out on a Sunday afternoon.

As for the argument that the BFA's decision to shelve this year's trophy tournament is an affront to the family of the late Dudley Eve, after whom the competition was named, there would appear to be a simple solution.

If Eve's considerable contribution to the sport is to continue to be recognised, why not simply add his name to the Friendship Trophy or replace the title 'Friendship' with 'Dudley Eve'.

Wouldn't that satisfy all parties.