BERMUDA'S Khano Smith and the New England Revolution will help kick off the second annual Clyde Best Invitational Youth Tournament next year. The tournament, which is staged by the Bermuda Football Foundation, of which Best is the president, will see 10 youth teams from the United States join four of Bermuda's young national teams.

Richard Calderon, secretary of the BFF, said this week: "The original relationship with the Revs was borne out of Clyde Best being a partner in Set Play, the local company responsible for organising and providing opposition for the Revs when they first came to Bermuda for pre-season matches against Bermuda and also for pre-season training. Clyde also wears the hat of the president of the BFF. To make a long story short, we had many discussions with the Revs GM, Craig Tornberg. The plan is to stage a Revs game on the first night of the youth tournament which will prove to be a great amenity to the competition. Additionally, the Revs will be accommodated in the same hotel as the visiting tournament teams which will allow the youth players to have real access to these professional players."

And Calderon also said that as a result of talks with Revs GM Tornberg, the BFF managed to get three Rhode Island youth teams for the tournament. "It was directly as a result of Craig's efforts that we secured the three Rhode Island Olympic Development Programme (ODP) teams."

The tournament will be staged on February 16 and 17 at the National Sports Centre's three fields.

"Through the kind sponsorship of the Department of Youth and Sport we will use all three fields at the National Sports Centre and we have also managed to secure the Police Recreation field as well," said Calderon.

After last year's inargurqal tournament, Calderon said he wanted to increase the number of teams and the quality. Asked if he was successful, he said: "Immediately after the completion of last year's tournament, I visited club officials in Boston, Hartford (Conneticut), Reading (Pennsylvania) and spent two days at a major youth tournament in Baltimore, Maryland. There I met with several coaches from the Baltimore area. The meetings proved to be successful and after a few months of discussions we had signed 14 teams, excluding our four national teams. The good news was that we peaked the interest of several outstanding programmes to include the Baltimore Casa Mia Club, who have won many National Championships in the US at various age brackets.

"The bad news followed a few months later when we lost the Casa Mia teams and Olney Rangers out of Baltimore and the Rage out of Pennsylvania. The problem was getting reasonable airfares. In short, the fares out of Baltimore/DC area in February 2007 came in at just under $400. With USA 3000 pulling out of the market and US AIR returning to its monopoly position, the teams were faced with quotes of $800 to $850. US Air, again the only flight out of Philadelphia quoted rates that exceeded $800 and as a result the Rage (a returning team) made the decision to go to England. The teams out of the Baltimore area just couldn't justify paying the high airfares. In the end we lost five teams.

"That said, as of today we have signed 10 US-based teams and through our travel partner, TNT Vacations, these teams are in various stages of booking their travel arrangements."

Included in the group coming are the Connecticut-Olympic Development Programme (ODP) / two Under-13 and two Under-14 teams; Rhode Island (ODP) who will have one Under-13, one Under-14 and one Under-15 teams; Westchester, Pa FC with six guest players from FC Delco. They are one of the United States premiere youth football programmes and they also will send one Under-15 team.

The Maryland (ODP) will send an Under-14 team while Crystal Palace FC (USL Academy team) will send an Under -14 side.

"We also have had serious enquiries from the Cayman Islands Under-15 national team. In the end we anticipate having a minimum of 10 visiting teams and four local national youth teams," said Calderon.

Calderon also praised the sponsors for coming out and supporting the tournament. "We have managed to add another major sponsor in the way of Allied World Assurance Company who have come on board for the 2008 event as one of the tournament sponsors and more specifically their generous financial support will cover the cost of our Awards Banquet which will once again be staged at the CedarBridge Academy on Sunday evening, February 17 after the last game of the tournament.

"We also want to thank the Department of Tourism for sponsoring the on-island bus transportation; the Department of Youth and Sport for sponsoring the cost of fields; St. John Ambulance Brigade will once again provide their services on both days and we have received the kind support from the Association of Physiotherapist which is a major plus for the 2008 tournament and finally Addidas will once again sponsor the game balls and other miscellaneous football gear and equipment.

"We also have the good folk at San Benedetto through Europa Imports to thank for supplying all the water.

"Additionally while not a sponsor, it is important to note that we have received real support from the BFA in the way of assistance with securing officials as well as leaving the tournament weekend-free of youth football and provide our youth players with an opportunity to support their peers in the national teams."