If Bermuda's World Cup and Olympic squads were a rock band, their trip to Florida could have been branded The Rude Awakening Tour.

A record of six games, six defeats does not sound like a success story, but it is undeniable that the players who took part are now better prepared for the demands of imminent international tournaments than they were before they left.

And hence, it was a case of mission accomplished for technical director Clyde Best.

Before berating players and coaches for poor results, fans should bear in mind the circumstances and the objectives of the nine-day training exercise.

The team which will play in the World Cup against the British Virgin Islands a week on Sunday will be far stronger and very different from the one which competed in Florida.

The Island's four full-time professionals -- Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne, Meshach Wade and David Bascome -- were unavailable, but will most probably all slot straight into the starting line-up when the meaningful action begins.

The players who travelled were those competing for the other seven starting places and coach Robert Calderon now has a good idea which of them has what it takes.

For amateurs whose main experience of the game is in the Bermuda league, the tough schedule of training and travelling, plus a series of matches against highly capable opponents must have come as a shock to the system. And it showed in both teams' opening games.

The under-23s at least enjoyed good spells and created chances against a disciplined and talented US under-20s team, coached by former Bayern Munich player Wolfgang Sunholz.

But the senior team played as if they only had to turn up to beat the University of South Florida. They were punished for a complacent, low-tempo performance.

The lesson of both 3-1 defeats was clear -- you may be the best players in the Bermuda league, but you need to up your level to compete with this opposition.

Both sides' second matches gave clear evidence that the lesson was getting through.

The under-23s battled as if their lives depended on the match against the University of Tampa. They stuck to their team plan against determined opponents and despite going down to an injury-time goal, showed the spirit and discipline they will need in the Olympic qualifiers in Panama.

And the seniors produced a massive improvement against the professionals of Miami Fusion. Only a free-kick which should never have been awarded broke through their solid defence and they had enough possession and chances to have earned a victory.

Striker Rohaan Simons gave an extraordinary performance, embarrassing professional defenders with his pace and looking fresh and energetic despite playing his third match in three days.

Jemeiko Jennings, Jay Smith, Jamaul Boyles, Cory Dowling and Stephen Astwood also did their future chances of selection a power of good.

The conduct of the players was another major plus. Polite, mature and respectful, they were excellent ambassadors. And with the current negative public perception of soccer on the Island that is a story which must be told.

I have toured with English professional players whose behaviour was not so responsible.

Bermuda can be proud of these young people, who fit their training into busy work and studying schedules, all for the love of the game.

The Island has the talent to compete on the world soccer stage, but to make it happen they need more tours like this one. Otherwise, how can they hope to compete with teams who train together for months at a time before major tournaments, like the US under-20s? So come on, big business. If you want to give the people of Bermuda a boost, you could do worse than spare a few dollars for the national soccer programme.