developement soccer team to the tune of $160,000 over the next four years.

The deal commenced yesterday when documents were signed by Cable and Wireless general manager John Tibbles and Neville Tyrrell, president of the Bermuda Football Association, at the association offices.

Cable and Wireless, who also struck up a sponsorship deal with all the teams of North Village for this season, have agreed to donate $40,000 per year up until the end of 2000. The team, which is presently the under-20 team, has begun its quest for qualification for the 2000 Olympic Games.

"Cable and Wireless is very keen on supporting sporting events in Bermuda across a wide range of the community spectrum,'' said Tibbles. "This is a particularly important one, it is the largest single sporting event sponsorship that we've ever done.'' "We believe it is very timely that we do it in this way for football because it is very popular on the Island and of equal importance.

"And perhaps even more so to us, is that its target is at an age group of young men up to the age of 23 and we hope that this sponsorship will help them represent their country and help Bermuda's endeavours in developing its position in international football.'' Tyrrell was delighted with the sponsorship deal which further assists the BFA's six-year development plan and he publicly thanked the company's president.

"I think Cable and Wireless have shown in the past their community mindedness and I think this has certainly shown in a very, very big way their interest in sport in Bermuda,'' he said.