BAA have entered into a partnership with senior manager Andrew Bascome’s football management company, helping to structure the club from grass roots, right through to their senior players.

The move will involve Bascome remaining as the senior team’s manager, while Dashun Cooper has been appointed as technical director of the youth programme, where he will be joined by Uefa B licensed coaches Karl Roberts and Aaron Lugo.

“Bermuda Athletic Association are delighted to welcome Andrew Bascome and his football management company into the BAA family as partner to provide BAA with a highly focused football programme that caters to every player and every age group, from grass roots to senior players, allowing each player an age appropriate development path to maximise their individual potential,” Mike McGrath, the BAA president, said.

“Through this partnership we now possess the coaches, facilities, structures, administrative and financial capabilities and international relationships to allow a player to fulfil his or her dreams and desires.

“This is a true team effort from both organisations, with everyone involved focusing on the most important part of the game, the players and their individual technical and mental development through the use of high quality facilities, qualified coaching, structures and curriculum, while making sure the enjoyment of football is not lost.

“I am very pleased to welcome Dashun Cooper in the role of technical director of the BAA youth programme. Under the mentorship of and collaboration with Andrew Bascome and others, he will take BAA’s youth programme to the next level.

“We have always wanted to offer the best and speaking to the parents and players over the years we have identified what has been missing, and I truly believe that these changes make for a programme that is second-to-none on the island.

“I am also pleased that coach Bascome will remain as the manager for our senior team, a role that he has had for the last two seasons achieving our premier league status in his first year and securing our top flight status, finishing sixth last season last season.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Cooper, who will play for the club’s first team as a goalkeeper after leaving X-Roads, is determined to help shape the next generation of players, both on and off the field, in his new role.

“I am very excited to be announced technical director for BAA,” Cooper said. “Our priority is to not only improve players technically, but to use football to improve the quality of life for the player.

“People may think that the objective of a sporting programme should be to develop top players and achieve top results, but the emphasis must also be placed on the complete individual.

“We must look at the social and psychological benefits of sport and apply it to our younger people, as they are our future leaders.”

Bascome revealed his expectations for BAA after finally concluding the partnership between his company and the club.

“We are happy to assume this role for BAA, and as we have discussed over the last year, our focus must first and foremost be on the players, who give so much for the game but generally get so little in return, as the crowds today are more or less non existent at the senior games,” Bascome said.

“To support the senior team development my colleagues Aaron Lugo, Karl Roberts and Kameron Fox will take on different roles, just like you see at all major football clubs around the world, to make the players and the team the best that they can be.

“Further, as we have mutually agreed, in order to put real substance behind our ambitions, we have defined the overall objective for our senior team; players, coaches and administrators alike, to deliver us a Concacaf Cup place in three years which will mean a league title or Cup triumph for BAA within two seasons.

“Knowing the demands ahead we have already started the planning of overseas prior post seasons activities, so the players can further their experience in football, as well as great life experiences.”