Dear Sir,

Please allow me space to add some vital information to the issue of the perceived “Village bias” that appeared in your paper last week.

Having spent so many years involved with youth football I too wondered why so many North Village Community Club players had been included in the Under-17 national team.

Additionally, as I watched the team play this summer I noticed various players, who in my opinio, should have been included in the team were absent. A few were in the stands so I took a moment to conduct my own interview and ask why they were not in the team.

One such response was: “I was picked but I ain't feeling ball right now so I didn't show up!”

I asked: “Exactly what are you feeling at 16-years-old and on summer holiday from school?” No reply was forthcoming, while another player said: “Thompson (Kenny) wants us to train too much so I dropped out. A few other guys felt the same way so we all stopped training.”

“Train too much at 16?” I asked. “What else do you have to do whilst on summer holidays? . . . Work! Work for what?”

He replied: “I have to work so I can buy clothes and stuff like that.”

I then asked: “School clothes?”

“No!” he answered. “Clothes to go out in and all that training don't allow me no free time to go out and stuff either.”

I then asked: “So you turned your back on an opportunity to represent your country because you felt having time to do other things was more important than dedicating yourself to making the team?”

He replied: “Yes, and I ain't the only one who feels like that either. My mum is cool with it and she says she understands where I am coming from.”

I then asked him how often did he train at his club?

He replied:”Twice a week max!”

I also asked a few more promising players in that age group and the response was pretty much along the same lines. A few others expressed how they didn't like that type of coaching so they too dropped out.

I then went back and looked at the original list of players selected. Most of those I would have picked were selected.

I found out that they had two squads training and if a player warranted it he'd be pushed up to the A squad and vice versa. I learned that a few others didn't think they should be in the B squad so they dropped out as well instead of having some endurance and eventually earning themselves the spot they felt they deserved.

Each time someone did drop out a replacement was called up and given an opportunity to train. The coaches need numbers to train in order that they have enough for two full teams to play against each other.

Several of the players that are in the final squad (U-17) received their invitation this way. And yes several are Village players.

Don't blame the coach or players that are in the team for being there. I shake my head in disbelief at those who have seen it fit to dismiss their opportunity - an opportunity for Bermuda to have our most talented players on the field.

At the under-17 age, Village players train three days a week and play on Saturdays. Adding one more training day as well as managing one's priorities for the honour to play for your country isn't too much for some.

Let's end this negative stuff and come out and support our team that have dedicated themselves for months for the chance to represent Bermuda.

TROY HARVEY

North Village coach

Dear Sir,

For years players and fans have looked forward to the Dudley Eve competition. I also believe that the introduction of the Jamaican teams are positive for soccer. However, would it not be an eventful option to include the Jamaican team into the Dudley Eve tournament rather than scrap it.

BH