After being forced to withdraw from a proposed two-match tour earlier this year because of financial difficulties, the Cubans have now been drawn in the same group as Bermuda in next year's Shell Cup (formerly Shell/Umbro).

Also in Bermuda's group are St. Maarten and Cayman Islands.

The qualifying round is scheduled to take place in the Caymans from April 19-26 with the group winners advancing to the finals which will be played immediately afterwards in Trinidad and Tobago.

Bermuda's Director of Coaching Clyde Best greeted news of the draw with delight.

Best, who a year ago made his debut in the competition when he coached Bermuda against Jamaica, believes his squad's chances of making the finals this time around are remarkably good.

"If our senior national team does what it is supposed to do then I feel we can reach the finals. I am very positive, we have a good young squad coming up,'' said Best, who aims to recruit both of Bermuda's English-based professional players, Kyle Lightbourne and Shawn Goater, for the competition.

Bermuda Football Association had hoped to organise practice matches for the squad against possibly Jamaica, Cuba or Surinam. But chances of any of these teams now visiting the Island appear slim.

BFA president Neville Tyrrell hinted recently that Bermuda's best hope would be to persuade a team from the US Major Soccer League to visit following the current end-of-season play-offs. Kansas City Wizards were the first MLS team to play overseas when they toured Bermuda earlier this year.

Best along with BFA officials, vice-president Aldwyn Savery and general secretary David Sabir, recently travelled to Washington to watch the World Cup qualifying match between Jamaica and the United States, when some exploratory talks with various coaches reportedly took place.

It is understood Puerto Rico have been approached about a possible tour, although this could not be confirmed yesterday.

With details of the Shell Cup having been inked in, Best may attempt to secure the services of Lightbourne and Goater well in advance of the April trip to the Caymans.

Interrupting their professional careers in England has presented problems in the past, but Best is a firm supporter of FIFA's policy to have clubs release their players for international matches.

And it's believed the coach would prefer to have them both brought back for warm-up matches in order that they could work with other squad members and become acquainted with Best's tactics before the trip to the Caribbean.