Santos arrived in Bermuda for the first time last week as ambassadors of samba football.

They might have left the Island yesterday dancing to the beat of a different drum . . . reggae!

The Brazilians began with a 3-0 win over the national team, battled to a a scoreless draw against Premier Division champions Dandy Town and completed their brief three-match tour with a 1-0 win over a gutsy local League Select on Thursday night at Somerset Cricket Club.

But before heading home for South America yesterday, Santos' acting team technical director Marcos Falopa gave a complimentary account of local football.

"This tour was very interesting because not only did we come to play three matches but to also support football in Bermuda," he said. "And it's important the relationship between Bermuda and Santos continues and hopefully other Brazilian clubs will want to come here."

Not only did Bermuda benefit from the tour but Falopa believes the Santos stars of tomorrow will have also gained "valuable" experience.

"It was a very interesting experience for our players to learn and it was our pleasure to show our style of football to Bermuda," he continued.

"I want to congratulate the Bermuda teams, they gave a very good presentation of themselves. "They counter-attacked, were strong physically and mentally and were very experienced.

"The tour gave Santos some very good exposure and they will have learned from the experience and will take that knowledge back to Brazil."

Falopa counted himself among a growing list who believe local football can only improve if Bermudian players are continually exposed to top class opposition.

"This tour proved that Bermuda only needs a bit more support and games like these against top level teams to learn," he noted. "Technically they are a good side but still need to learn a lot. They are very professional and did a good job and they must be congratulated.

"I think Bermuda needs more support in coaching programmes while the players need to learn how to play the ball along the ground a bit more."

Falopa said the tour provided Santos with an ideal opportunity to prepare themselves for a major cup competition which kicks off in ten days.

Members of the Santos B squad will play series of practice matches against the club's premier squad once they return to Brazil as part of their pre-tournament preparations.

Falopa added: "This has been an excellent tour for the players but above all they got to learn about the culture of Bermuda.

"This is a very nice Island with lots of very nice people. To Clyde Best, the Bermuda Football Association and all of the people of Bermuda I say thank you for all of the support that you gave us and hopefully we can return soon."

Former West Ham striker and Santos tour organiser, Best, said it would be great to have the Brazilian club return to Bermuda next year.

"They (Santos) want to come back and so we will have to sit down and talk and then go from there once all of the figures add up," he said. "But I'm sure we'll be doing something like this again in the future."

Overall, Best said the tour was a resounding success - despite this week's inclement weather.

"I thought everything went off fantastically. Santos had a great time and were treated brilliantly. The weather was a bit of a disappointment but it didn't stop the show.

"Anywhere else in the world football is played in the rain and that's what we also need to start doing here in Bermuda.

"And I guess that's just the way the good Lord planned it for us."