No rest for Thompson's U-17 heroes
Bermuda's Under-17 soccer heroes could be back in action within the month.
Fresh from their victory in the Caribbean Football Union Under-17 World Cup qualifying round, dates have been pencilled in for Bermuda's clash with Cuba, the first leg being here on November 24.
The dates, issued by soccer's regional governing body CONCACAF, are still to be confirmed by the two nations and may be the subject of change, but if agreed Bermuda would then travel for the second leg on December 8.
The youngsters saw off the challenge of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia last week, winning a keenly fought group on goal difference.
Coach Kenny Thompson has given them a week off to celebrate and recuperate but they will be back in training next week in readiness for their next assignment.
If the first leg is given the go-ahead in less than three week's time then it does not leave the Island much time to plan.
However, it does not concern Thompson too much when the games are played.
"It's an advantage having a match played soon. The players are still in the condition needed to play in an international match," he said. "They have got into a very good rhythm so playing soon is certainly an advantage there.
"The disadvantage, obviously, is the short time for recovery especially for players with minor knocks."
Both defender Logan Alexander and team captain Kyle Outerbridge have received treatment for injuries.
"Logan left the match at half-time against Trinidad but his injury is not as serious as we thought it was," said Thompson. "We thought it was a dislocated shoulder but it turned out it's just badly bruised.
"I spoke to his father today and he said there is a lot of movement in the arm now. We took this week off and so for Logan it's just a matter of when he feels comfortable to come back."
Outerbridge had played through the pain barrier, Thompson said.
"Kyle was carrying an injury through the entire tournament," he said. "There is now an opportunity for him to get some rest and regain his health so that by the time the matches come around he is 100 percent, or certainly much closer to it than he was."
Training for those that are able will begin on Tuesday.
"We will then train right through until the second leg," said the coach.
"We normally have a squad of 24 in training so the six players who were not active in this tournament will get the opportunity to join the team again."
While the door remains open, it appears Thompson already has his ideas on the squad for the next round.
"There is always the possibility of calling up a player who hasn't trained with the team but it doesn't happen normally," he said. "At that stage it would certainly have to be a player who would make an immediate impact.
"There is no time to bring a player in who hasn't been involved before and teach him everything from step one."
One of the reasons why there will probably little change is that Thompson was mightily impressed with the players that played last week.
"Out of the 18 players that we selected 16 actually got on the field," he said. "I was certainly very pleased with the productivity and output of most of the players - at least 13 players played exceptionally well.
"They of course, I would say, have certainly cemented their positions but, having said that, anything can happen be it a loss of form or injury and then we have to pick replacements. That's why it is important to have a squad of players who at any moment are capable of getting into the team and playing well."
Despite the importance of the matches, Thompson said he was not going to prevent the players from turning out domestically.
"They have been playing with their clubs all this time, it's just that most of the training has been with the national team," he said. "I don't think it makes sense to say to players who are involved in a World Cup you can't play for your club. I think it's important that they do get the chance to play matches and to play as many as is possible.
"We just have to hope that there are no accidents but that's the life of a footballer. Every time a footballer goes to train there's a risk of an accident and it's the same in matches."
But with accidents in mind Thompson said the players had been given one word of warning.
"One thing we have advised the players is not to participate in street pick-me-up type of games," he said. "That only increases the risk of injury."
The life of an international coach normally involves widespread travelling, spying on opponents and sizing up their players prior to competition.
But Thompson was not sure whether he would get the chance to see the Cubans prior to the match itself.
"I would like to (go) but it's a question, first of all, of whether Cuba have any matches," he said. "Right now, we have to just rely on what we know traditionally which is very little.
"We know they are normally a very, very strong team and we have to prepare for that."