Bermuda could have a professional soccer team playing in the American summer league by 2007 as part of a new plan to help the national team compete internationally.
Shaun Goater, who retired from professional football this weekend, is understood to be involved in the plan along with national coach Kyle Lightbourne and his assistant Paul Scope.
Scope confirmed that the idea of having Bermuda compete in the United Soccer Leagues second division - the third tier of American soccer (behind Major League Soccer and USL Division One) was on the table.
But he said there was a lot of negotiating to do before it became a reality.
“Shaun, Kyle and I are in agreement that it would be great to have a professional team because a full professional league would not be viable here.
“The problem we have when we play against the likes of Trinidad, Jamaica and Haiti is that we have got amateurs playing against full-time pros and understandably we can't compete.
“If we had a professional team, albeit in the USL, that would make sense. Our players would be better prepared when the Olympic and World Cup qualifiers come around.”
He said the likeliest option for Bermuda was the USL Second Division - a regional tier concentrated on the Eastern seaboard.
He said he was still pursuing various avenues to get more Bermudians playing professional soccer.
“We are still trying to get players over to England, get people playing in the MLS like Khano and to get young players into the college programme.
“This team would bridge the gap for those players that went off to college but weren't able to get contracts away.”
Of Goater's involvement, Scope said the former Manchester City striker was looking to do whatever he could to help improve the standard of Bermudian football in general.
“One of the things we agree on is the more players we have playing professional football the better.”
The USL is the tier of American soccer below the MLS, where Khano Smith plies his trade for New England Revolution.
Striker John Barry Nusum has played in the USL Division One for Virginia Beach Mariners, Atlanta Silverbacks and Toronto Lynx.
The First Division is a nationwide league and even includes a team from Puerto Rico.
It's thought, though, that the second division would be a better option for Bermuda because all the teams are concentrated in the east — Ohio's Cincinnati Kings being the most westerly based franchise.
North Village boss Dwayne 'Streaker' Adams former team Charlotte Eagles were the most recent champions of that division while other teams involved include David Bascome's old team the Harrisburg City Islanders as well as the Long Island Rough Riders.
National team goalkeeper Tim Figureido has also played in the USL for the Hampton Roads Mariners.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Comment by:
tony turner
iN MY TIME IN bERMUDA i MUST HAVE BEEN TO A 1,000 MATCHES OR CLOSE TO IT.mANY OF THE BETTER TEAMS WERE EX -PAT TEAMS NOT WANTING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE "AMATEUR dIV 1 OR 2' cOMMERCIAL LEAGUE WAS FUN & NON RACIST White Workers on work permits might rob a Bermudian of his $50+ expenses on a Div 1 side,Sad but true the I am best syndrome lives on!
I still love my BLAZERS.
Cheers Rev TT & coco
Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Comment by:
John McCluskey
Helo, I have been involved with the business side of soccer for 25+ years.
I always thought Bermuda could be a soccer gold mine,preseason for European teams,MLS A tournamnet etc.
Can you put me in touch with the important people.
Thanks,
John McCluskey
www.11SportsMarketing.com
