Dear Sir,

Please let me say that I am ecstatic that our national football team start the World Cup 2010 qualifying match at home on Sunday with a 2-1 advantage.

This has generated a lot of excitement in the community and given many of us a real lift, "a natural high".

Sunday's match should be sold out, even requiring extra seating.

On home soil, the Bermuda crowd should be the 12th man. I say "should be" because in recent times I've noticed that even our bumper crowds cheer only for a few seconds, clap their hands once in a while but are otherwise sadly quiet unless things are going wrong when we scream, moan and complain.

Are we a people too proud or even afraid to express ourselves in a positive manner?

We come dressed in our Sunday best and don't want to be seen breaking a sweat while waving the team colours. And even those of us who do want to cheer, seldom do so because we do not know any common Bermudian chants that we can say together.

On the other side, having seen them in action before, I am fearful that the Trini-posse will come and outcheer us on home soil.

I guarantee they will try as they believe their team are superior. They expect to inspire their team, their country to victory.

CONCERNED

Dear Bermuda,

I have a dream that for once in my lifetime, thousands of us will all be at the National Sports Centre clad in the national team jerseys waving Bermuda flags.

I have a dream that we'll be honking horns and bouncing to the sound of gombey drums.

I have a dream that we'll be chanting, "Hail, hail the gangs all here" to the top of our voices until we are hoarse.

I have a dream that we'll be blind to all those haters and the Bermuda team will play with a passion never seen before.

I have a dream that TOGETHER we will crush the Trini-posse and advance to the next phase of the World Cup.

I have a dream that we as the Bermudians from all factions will stand up and cheer TOGETHER.

THE DREAMER