Columnist Clay Smith calls it “one of the strongest Bermuda teams we’ve had in recent years”.And while Under-19 coach Irving Romaine thinks it is unfair to compare the current team to past youth teams like the International Youth Tournament-winning teams of 1979 and ‘85 or the 2007 team which qualified for the World Youth Cup in Malaysia, expectations will be high when the team travels to Canada this weekend for a World Cup qualifying tournament against the hosts and United States.“No I don’t think it is fair to compare, it’s a different generation and different time in cricket,” said Romaine, a former Bermuda captain. “Back then cricket was cricket and that’s what youngsters did, but some of these youngsters are still playing football along with their cricket. Back then cricket was in its heyday and those guys thrived on it, but today these youngsters have opportunities in different areas that it will be unfair to compare them.”The winner books their ticket to next year’s Under-19 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Romaine, who replaces the unavailable Clevie Wade as coach for the tournament, thinks the squad is strong enough to reach its goal.“I’m very confident, with the tournament of only three teams the odds are always better like that,” said Romaine who has World Cup qualification experience, having helped the 2005 national team in Ireland qualify for World Cup 2007 in the West Indies where he captained the team.“We have a mature team and most of the guys are in their last Under-19 tournament. There is always a good chance when you have guys like Kamau Leverock, Joshua Gilbert, Shaquille Jones who are mature cricketers in the league. The team is stacked with a bunch of all-rounders and it is a very balanced team. Now that the overseas guys have joined us we have started mixing and matching batting orders and bowling combinations.”Unlike previous youth teams, the current Under-19s already has players with Cup Match experience as Leverock, Gilbert and Tre Manders have already played for Somerset as well as the senior national team along with Delray Rawlins and Christian Burgess.This team also has a number of players who have had or are getting exposure in England, players like Leverock, Gilbert, Tre Manders, Onias Bascome, Christian Burgess and Delray Rawlins. The bulk of the team has been together for some time, having travelled to Florida last summer to play the same two teams in a triangular tournament.“Guys like Kamau Leverock, Joshua Gilbert and Delray Rawlins have played for the senior national team and I expect them to do well at the Under-19 level,” said the coach.“They have responded real well, they know the goal at hand and I’ve explained that it’s a good chance for them with the opportunities that they have. One great innings or one good bowling spell, and with 20/20 starting in the Americas, there are opportunities out there now.”The players will be familiar with many of the players in the Canada and US teams, having just played them a year ago. The US team will be led by Stephen Taylor, who was a member of the senior team that played in the ICC Division 3 Tournament in Bermuda in April.“They know a lot of the opposition that they played against in the Under-15 tournaments and the Americas is definitely developing,” the coach pointed out. “They are playing each other more and more and seem very confident about knowing certain players. Most of these guys have made friendships.”The bulk of the players will likely go on to play Cup Match in the next few years, but for the time being Romaine insists that country, not club, is the first priority.“In training we’re not talking about club cricket or Cup Match but Bermuda on the whole,” stressed the coach. “Our ultimate goal is qualifying for the Under-19 World Cup.“In tournament play there isn’t any day when you can relax like in the league when you go up against weak opposition. Every team is there to beat you so 110 percent is needed from beginning to end.“These guys are representing Bermuda and off the field they need to know how to carry themselves. It’s a good opportunity for them to see what international cricket is all about.”The team will have final training at the National Sports Centre today and tomorrow before flying out to Canada on Sunday.Squad: Joshua Gilbert (capt), Kamau Leverock (vice capt), Tre Manders, Alex Dore, Onias Bascome, Christian Burgess, Shaquille Jones, Delray Rawlins, Kamal Easton, Christian Gibbons, Zeko Burgess, Kwasi James, Azende Furbert, Jordan Smith. Coach is Irving Romaine, Terry Fray the director and Craig Brown the physio.