Gary Darrell is eager to start his latest coaching role nurturing Bermuda's most promising young players after watching his national academy under-17 team draw 1-1 against Crystal Palace Baltimore.

While Darrell's team were denied victory by a late equaliser at the National Sports Centre yesterday, Devarr Boyles' under-15s enjoyed a 4-2 win over Palace's under-15 outfit at BFA Field.

For former NASL professional Darrell it was the first time he had seen his new side in action and said his early impressions of the talent at his disposal had whetted his coaching appetite.

"Although I'm familiar with some of the players this was the first time I'd seen them in a competitive game," said Darrell, who was appointed under-17 national coach earlier this month.

"My first impressions are that there's plenty of talent to work with and I'm excited about being back involved."

Although Darrell is arguably Bermuda's most successful ever national team coach ¿ masterminding their best ever World Cup run ¿ he insisted his football education was far from over and was keen to learn from his younger coaching colleagues.

"I guess I'm the old man of the coaching team compared to Devarr (Boyles) and Scotty (Morton)," he said. "But hopefully my experience can help them and I'm sure I can take plenty from them as well.

"The best part about this for me is that we now have a coaching team and it's not like there's just one man doing everything. I'm excited to be back involved and excited about being part of what Derek (Broadley) is trying to achieve."

While Darrell's most memorable accomplishment have come with senior international players he says he will have no problem transferring his skills to the junior level, having worked extensively with youngsters in Bermuda and the US.

"Of course it's slightly different coaching at the senior team level as opposed to youth players," he said. "But in my time I think I've worked with just about every aged player imaginable and coached this particularly age group when I was working in Maryland, DC."

Bermuda Football Association's festival of football against the youth teams of professional side Palace continues today at BFA Field with matches at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7p.m.