Whether the Bermuda Football Association will ever return to bringing in touring teams during the Christmas period will come down to one factor — finances.

The BFA regularly hosted overseas teams during the festive break, as far back as the 1960s when Bermuda won an international youth tournament against five visiting teams, Haiti, Mexico, Barbados, United States and Canada.

Watching overseas teams compete, including English professional teams, had proved very popular, but the cost of bringing in teams makes it challenging for the BFA, Cal Blankendal, the vice-president and chairman of competitions, said.

“The Bermuda Football Association is and has always been open to exposing our national team players and the general public to international opposition,” said Blankendal when contacted yesterday.

“As a small island without a pro league, overseas opponents allows us to measure our progress at both a tactical and technical level.

“As the chair of competitions, the only obstacle is financing and a guaranteed break even margin on such events. During these challenging economic times BFA has to be mindful of costs versus revenue.

“Secondly, overseas teams have a host of alternative options and access to advanced opponents and facilities.

“We must also note that when overseas teams do travel to Bermuda, it is often based on a subsidised cost agreement between the BFA and the guest teams or nations.”

During the last few years the Friendship Trophy and Shield competitions and the Player Development League (PDL) have been the showcase tournaments during Christmas, dates which used to be reserved for incoming tours and then the Dudley Eve Trophy tournament featuring the top teams at the halfway stage of the season.

“The landscape of football has changed and with appearance fees, TV rights and sponsor obligations, Bermuda is a very small market,” Blankendal said.

“In my personal opinion, we may have leverage on the East Coast with semi-pro or college?teams.

“Even at the MLS level, teams will not travel without being subsidised. Unless we can leverage the corporate community, fans, Government and hoteliers, we will continue to be challenged with providing consistent international competition, outside of the World Cup qualifiers every four years.”

Last month, The Royal Gazette reported that North American Soccer League side New York Cosmos were considering Bermuda as a possible destination for a pre-season training camp.

Former national team striker Randy Horton, whose goals helped Cosmos to a maiden NASL championship in 1972, said the club’s chairman Seamus O’Brien had spoken to him about the team visiting in February.