million programme to perspective sponsors at Government House.

It is an undertaking that will take seven national teams into major international competitions by the next century.

At a reception hosted by Governor Lord Waddington and Lady Waddington, BFA officials outlined major initiatives which include the hiring of a new technical director of coaching as the main priority so that the six-year coaching programme can be launched.

BFA President Neville Tyrrell disclosed afterwards that the BFA was "in negotiation right now with someone'' in regards to filling the post.

And the association hopes to reveal details of a sponsor which has already made a major commitment, believed to be in the region of $100,000, at a press conference tomorrow.

Of the estimated $4,021,000 the BFA's fund-raising committee estimates it will need to fund the six-year plan, they feel that about $1.7 can be raised through gate receipts. Other funds they estimate will be raised from such areas as merchandise, food concessions at international games, telethons, raffles and broadcasting rights. "We've spoken to the affiliates, honourary vice presidents, directors and every time we got a warm feeling from each of those three entities,'' said Tyrrell.

"What inspired us even more was when we talked to our past major sponsors and they were most excited about it, and in fact they think we are under-selling ourselves.'' Tyrrell stressed that the $4 million is not what the BFA is looking to receive in sponsorship money.

Tyrrell, BFA general secretary David Sabir and Larry Mussenden (chairman) and Jon Beard of the fund-raising committee all made presentations through visual aids to outline the plan.

The presentation began with a short film which highlighted the popularity of soccer worldwide.

About 200 million people play the game and that there were 198 affiliated countries in six continental confederations. About 1.2 billion follow the sport worldwide and FIFA is described as the world's most influential sports federation.

Now there are 30 million women playing the sport worldwide and they now have their own World Cup.

Qualifying for the women's World Cup is one of the goals of the association, who aim to assist in the development of the sport among women by getting the women's team into overseas tournaments.

The three main objectives of the association are: the re-introduction of proper, orderly playing of international competition Improved coaching at all levels, including women's soccer Regaining respectability of its administration, both locally and internationally.

Bermuda's football took a hammering with the arrest of seven under-23 players for drug possession on a flight from Jamaica to Miami in 1994. But Tyrrell says with confidence that he believes Bermuda's reputation has been restored.

"The CFU (Caribbean Football Union) is already calling us their friends,'' he said, referring to Bermuda's re-entry into the Shell/Umbro Cup later this month.

It is expected the six-year programme for the senior national team will cost $1,587,000 which will go towards the staging of six international games in Bermuda each year and two overseas tournaments. The ultimate aim is qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

International six-year programmes are also laid out for the women's national team ($281,000), under-13 national team ($294,000), under-15s ($169,000), under-16s ($186,000) and under-18s ($149,000) with the aims being to reach Youth World Cup finals. The under-20 national team is expected to require $155,000 over six years as they aim for the 2000 Olympics and beyond.

"We intend to elevate the sport, to keep the encouragement and to drive the passion of all persons who participate,'' said Tyrrell.

BIG PLANS -- Bermuda Football Association officials were beaming with the unveiling of their Six-Year Plan last night at Government House. Left to right are general secretary David Sabir, president Neville Tyrrell, the Governor Lord Waddington and Bermuda national coach Clyde Best