weekend decide who are the 16 players best qualified to represent the Island in the Shell/Umbro Cup in Jamaica next weekend.

After having only had six weeks of intensive training for this venture, the travelling squad will finally be chosen by the two former professionals and both are predicting that whatever combination they come up with will be a handful for opponents Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

Bermuda leave for Jamaica on February 19 and will play Puerto Rico in the first game on February 21 and against Jamaica in the second on February 23, both matches taking place at Kingston's National Stadium.

From a training squad of about 35, Best and Darrell will select just 16 for the trip.

Darrell, who was the last coach to lead Bermuda in the competition six years ago, firmly believes that a decent team could be chosen despite injuries and the limited time span in which he and Best have had to work with the players.

"As far as I am concerned things in training have gone pretty well even though we all would have like to have had more time in preparing the players,'' said Darrell.

"Although we haven't had a whole lot of time to work on things, a lot of progress has been made and I personally feel that we can put a respectable team out there for this tournament.'' Darrell turned down the original offer to be in charge of the squad since little time remained for preparations when Bermuda's entrance in the competition was confirmed in December.

At the time he pointed out that work commitments made it impossible for him to offer the time he would like to have with the squad for the prestigious tournament, but later agreed to assist Best.

The Best-Darrell combination has worked out well and Bermuda Football Association officials say they are pleased with the manner in which players have responded to the two former Bermuda internationals.

Darrell himself was not surprised to see things work smoothly with Best, pointing out that he had always expected them to get along well.

"I am very happy with the conmbination and what the two of us have accomplished with the squad during this short period. The players have been coming out to the sessions and they have all reacted postively and seem very committed,'' said Darrell.

"Clyde has been in full charge and I have just been there to do whatever I can. But because he is not the kind of person to restrict the involvement of others, it has made it easy to work alongside of him.'' Aldwyn Savery, chairman of the coaching committee, agreed that the fact that Best and Darrell got along well and that the players were all keen only helped to hasten the overall devleopment of the squad. "Things have worked out exceedingly well, better than we could have ever imagined. The fact that they played together for so long obviously has helped to make things easier for everybody,'' he said.

"They have a great understanding and the exciting thing is that the players get along with both of them quite well. The only problem is that we often have 20 players at one session and then a slight drop at another, it's difficult to get them all out at one occasions.'' CLYDE BEST: Decisions