Miami prosecutors are refiling drugs charges against Bermuda's Under-23 soccer player Meshach Wade.

The US State Attorney Office's move comes just four days after the charges against Wade were dropped.

A trial date will now have to be fixed for the 21-year-old, who captained the Bermuda national team during its World Cup qualifying matches.

Wade was dramatically cleared of possessing and importing cannabis when he appeared last Friday at Dade County Court in Miami.

Jubilant relatives mobbed him after the prosecution told Judge Celeste H. Muir no action was being taken on the allegations.

But it later emerged the prosecution had made an error.

Chief of narcotics of the Dade County Attorney's Office Mr. David Weinstein told the The Royal Gazette there appeared to have been a "procedural miscommunication''.

And yesterday he confirmed the charges against Wade were being renewed.

"The same charges are being refiled. There is no problem with that. We are perfectly entitled to do this,'' he said.

Mr. Weinstein said he was restricted on how much he could comment on the case, although he did manage to throw some light on the blunder.

He explained the prosecution was required to get sworn testimony from material witnesses -- such as Customs Officers -- within a certain time.

Last week, the prosecutor should have asked the court for more time to get such testimony.

Instead, because of a "miscommunication'', the Judge was told no action was being taken, said Mr. Weinstein.

Mr. Weinstein said the next stages in processing Wade's case should become known in the near future.

Trial dates in February have already been fixed for the five other adult Under-23 players who were arrested with Wade at Miami International Airport on December 9 following their success in the Pan-Am Games qualifying tournament in Jamaica.

The players are Shawn Riley, Herbert Dillas, Donnie Charles, Kevin Jennings and Keishon Smith.

The seventh player arrested, 17-year-old Tokia Russell, has to return to Miami's Family and Juvenile Justice Centre.

In other developments yesterday, it emerged there are moves to set up a soccer players' union in Bermuda amid disenchantment with officials running the game.

Posters have been distributed stating "one of the most decorated players in Bermuda'' was in the process of forming such a union.

And they contain an attack on the Bermuda Football Association.

The posters say: "Are you tired of professional rules in an amateur game, no representation when being disciplined by your club or the BFA, unrealistic suspensions and money being made off your God-given talent. Well soon you will no longer have to suffer.'' More details would be released in January, the posters state.

Meanwhile, members of the Government-inspired board of inquiry into the drugs-in-soccer crisis have met for the first time.

The inquiry is being headed by former Premier the Hon. Sir John Sharpe. Other members include Mr. Eugene Blakeney, former Cabinet Secretary Mr. Kenneth Richardson, Mr. Louis Mowbray and Mr. Calvin (Bummy) Symonds.

Sir John said the board had written to the BFA, asking for information, including a list of the association's affiliates, and their addresses.

"We asked them for a list of players, coaches and the BFA members who accompanied them to Jamaica.'' Sir John said the board planned to meet with, among others, the Under-23 side's Technical Director Mr. Burkhard Ziese, and coach Mr. Mark Trott.

"We will be doing a lot of advertising through the Press, asking people to make submissions and recommendations.'' Sir John added: "We are off the mark, and I expect our first group meeting will be with the executive of the BFA.

"We've asked them certain questions, and will probably meet with them in the middle of January.'' A venue for the meetings had not been decided, said Sir John.

"We may use the Ministry of Youth and Sport board room, or the Bank of Bermuda training room.''