Although the Champions Cup will replace the former Dudley Eve Trophy competition, the final of the inaugural tournament involving the top four teams from both the Premier and First Division at the half-way stage of the season over the festive holiday is still to be played in honour of the late Bermuda Football Association (BFA) administrator and founding member.

The original Dudley Eve competition was inaugurated in 1978-79 ? four months after the death of the late BFA executive ? with Devonshire Colts emerging as the first winners of the showpiece played up until 2001-02.

PHC Zebras won the trophy the most (six times), including the 1981-82 two-leg final over Somerset Trojans by the flip of a coin after both clubs finished all tied after 210 minutes of intense football and penalty kicks.

Wolves, meanwhile, were the last local club team to win the trophy in 2001-02 before the association changed the original format by extending an invitation for overseas opposition to participate against local clubs and selects in the festive tournament.

A local select defeated Jamaica's Under 23 national team 2-1 in 2002-03 while Barbados defeated the Island's senior national team 2-1 in last year's tournament at the National Sports Centre.

The late Dudley Eve had been involved in local football for over 35 years, holding every position in the BFA at one time or another, according to former BFA president Dr.Gerard Bean.

Eve is perhaps best remembered for the significant role he played in the racial desegregation of football in Bermuda and the amalgamation of the Bermuda Football Union (BFU) and the Bermuda Football League (BFL) in 1963.

This marked the first time in local football history that both black (BFL) and white (BFU) teams played against each other in one league since the first official football match was recorded in Bermuda in 1902 ? the same year the inaugural Cup Match was held at the Royal Naval Field in Somerset.

The BFU was formed in 1929 and consisted of entirely white players during the height of racial segregation while the BFL was founded in 1944.

Prior to 1954, no black team had been allowed to play in the former BFA Cup ? precursor to what is now referred to as the BFA Challenge Cup that was introduced in1956.

Both the BFU and BFL were forerunners of the BFA, founded in 1970.

The late Eve, father of former PHC coach Alfie Eve Jr., attended Berkeley Institute before graduating from the Canadian Institute of Electricity in Montreal in 1938.

The former BFA administrator worked as a self-employed wholesale distributor before entering Government service where, at the time of his death, he held the post of Clerk to the Legislative Council. Prior to that, Eve had served as a Government Collecting Officer for 12 years.

Meanwhile, the new Champions Cup tournament features six double-headers to be held over the festive period in a double elimination format culminating in a January 2 final.

There is also a $12,000 cash incentive at stake with the eventual winner of the Champions Cup set to pocket $3,000.

The first rounds of the tournament are scheduled for Tuesday, December 21 and Thursday, December 23rd with the next round to take place on Boxing Day and Tuesday, December 28.

The penultimate round is to held on Thursday, December 30 with the final to be played on Sunday, January 2 at White Hill Field.

Devonshire Recreation Club, Somerset Cricket Club, St. David's and Southampton Oval are also set to host the inaugural competition.

The draw for the Champions Cup takes place next Thursday.

As it presently stands, Dandy Town and Devonshire Cougars have already secured berths in the Premier Division Champions Cup competition but who will join them remains anybody's guess between North Village, Boulevard and PHC.

Village have already played all of their matches in the first half of the season (seven) and currently remain in third spot in the standings with 12 points. But both Blazers (11 pts) and Zebras (ten) each have a game in hand and, as such, can still mathematically overhaul Village.

Zebras are away to Somerset Eagles this weekend while Blazers are away to Town.

Although league leaders Ireland Rangers are heavily favoured to qualify for the First Division Champions Cup judging by current form, only three points separates Devonshire Colts, Paget Lions, St.George's, Prospect and St.David's ? all teams with very realistic chances of appearing in the festive tournament and competing for the $2000 that will go up for grabs.