ALL eyes are now focussed on the World Cup qualifying matches against El Salvador by Bermuda's senior team. And although head coach Kenny Thompson will be thinking about how Bermuda can get by El Salvador in the home and away matches, he has not forgotten about Bermuda's other national teams who will also be in the thick of World Cup qualifying this summer.

Thompson said that in August the Under 17 team will fly to Cuba for a qualifying match for their World Cup and at the same time the Under 20 side will travel to Jamaica for that World Cup qualifying campaign. Both World Cups in the Under 17 and Under 20 divisions will be staged in 2005 in Peru and Holland respectively.

On top of that Thompson is hoping to get the Bermuda Under 23 side up and running for an Olympic campaign.

"We have a very busy summer on tap for Under 17 and Under 20 teams," said Thompson this week. "They both have World Cup qualifying tournament games in August ? at the same time at two different venues. The Under 17 team will be playing against Cuba between August 9-16 in Cuba and the Under 20 team will be playing at the same time in Jamaica."

Thompson said he has been preaching for some time how important it is for Bermuda's national teams to be playing regularly throughout the year in their various competitions. "The importance of the programme of being continuous shows that the Under 17 team from a few years ago have now come together to form much of the Under 20 team so they get another opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned from their previous experience. I already see from the players that they are very prepared to demonstrate the experience they have gained in the past ? they want to show what they have learned on a higher level now because the motivation has been there from the very beginning. Now they understand what is going to be required of them. In the past when we got them together they had no idea what was it was like ? they didn't understand the mental and physical demands and the need for 100 percent focus. Now they understand that right from the beginning."

Now players selected at perhaps the Under 13 level, know they have something to "aim for". Thompson said: "They will be aiming for the national senior team. A player should always aspire to play for his country in the biggest football event which is the World Cup. A stepping stone for all youth players is to get into the Under 17 team and the Under 20 team."

Now a number of the players in the Under 20 and Under 23 teams are knocking at the door of the senior national team.

"In fact a number of them are training with the senior national team right now," said Thompson.

The head coach said there may be some players who will be in the Under 23 team as well as the senior national team. "There is that natural progression," he said. "Those that have the most promise could be in the senior national team and the Under 23 teams at the same time. Some of the Under 20 players are taking part with the senior national team as well and show they have the potential to knock on the door."

Although the Olympic qualifying has not been totally sorted out, Thompson said that Bermuda should take on the task of competing in the Olympics. "That has been one of my recommendations," he added.

Concerning the matches this summer for the Under 17 and Under 20 teams Thompson said Bermuda will be better prepared having played both Cuba and Jamaica in fairly recent matches.

"We know what to expect from both since we have competed against Cuba and Jamaica at the Under 17 level. Those players which played against the Jamaican Under 17 team will know what to expect as there will be a number of players in Jamaica's Under 20 side who were in their Under 17 team. There is a little bit of familiarity. We have also travelled to Cuba so we are familiar with that country and the style of play."

Cuba knocked out Bermuda in the last round of qualifying for the Under 17 World Cup two years ago.

Thompson said the Under 17 team have been doing strength training for the past month at the 24 Hour Fitness gym in Hamilton Parish. He said: "We have found out that at this age we have been in situations where our opponents are larger and stronger. It is important for the Under 17 players to be physical strong although the major emphasis is on the technical development and football insight. As players mature a bit more it is important that we pay attention to the physical aspects of the game."

Thompson said he is currently coaching Bermuda's senior team as well as the Under 20 team. "I am fulfilling both positions," he said.

But he has handed over the Under 17 team to one of Bermuda most respected coaches, Dennis Brown, who last season brought his former club Somerset Trojans back from the First Division into the top flight.

Thompson said of Brown: "Dennis is a season international player and was also the national team captain so he has had his fair share of experiences in international football. He certainly brings a lot of experience from his playing days for Bermuda and he is also a very motivated coach. He is always looking out for, and participating in, coaching courses and symposiums to better himself and that is what is required at this level. The players will learn a lot from Dennis ? he has those leadership qualities ? he is a proven leader."

The Under 20 team are coming to the end of their strength programme in the gym but that will continue on the field starting on Monday. Thompson said they will be developing their speed and strength during "real situations in football" when training moves to the National Sports Centre. "On May 31 we will start the technical programme for both the Under 17 and Under 20 teams. It is important that our national teams are able to train at the National Sports Centre because the quality of the pitch plays such an important part in speed development. We need to give the players the best opportunity to develop their technique and speed required for international football," he added.

As for the senior national squad training for the matches against El Salvador, Thompson said Bermuda has a group of very experienced players. "Players from Shaun (Goater) to Kentoine (Jennings) to Shannon (Burgess) to Meshach (Wade) to Troy (Hall) and others.

"But we also have a large nucleus of younger players like Ralph Bean, Clevon Hill, Kaiwone Dill, and Damon Ming to just name for a few. They will be required to carry the programme beyond the Shauns and Mechachs. And then there will be a nucleus of Under 20 players who will be asked to do the same when their turn comes around and it will be the same when the Under 17 team comes along for the senior national team.

"Now anyone playing football in Bermuda can look and aspire to be part of the national team. It is no use to have a little periods of activity and then for long periods of time to have nothing. When I was a young player, I always watched the national team playing and had the view of being on that stage as well. It can be discouraging for a young player who doesn't see the opportunity for the future. This is one of the reasons why we want to have matches when FIFA have their international calendar dates."

While other will only look at results in terms of success or failure, Thompson said: "For us success or failure will be based on whether we can keep the programme going. Where we have failed in the past is where we participate in the qualification and then programme stops. Then the World Cup campaign comes around again and we have to get started all over again."