FIRST things first ? someone send Clyde Best a "thank you" hamper ? bringing in Santos was a great idea. Anyone who made the short trip to the National Sports Centre on Sunday cannot fail to have been delighted by what was on show.

An enormous, noisy, friendly crowd were treated to wonderful weather (which the BFA will probably claim credit for), great entertainment, Shaun Goater at his rampant best and all the long hair, olive skin, diving, flicking, tricking, back-heeling, appealing and skill you could wish from the young Brazilian side.

It was the 'family of football' utopia that BFA Larry Mussenden keeps crowing on about and the complete antithesis of the Wellington Oval Friendship disgrace of last year.

Everything that is good about Bermuda football, past and future, was on display at that grand stadium. Even the result was positive, Bermuda effectively lost just 1-0, give or take a couple of goals that multiple substitutions and fatigue played a massive role in.

So ? and this is the $64,000 (or however much organises made on Sunday) question ? why the hell was it not repeated later in the week?

Kyle Lightbourne and Paul Scope seemed to have earned the respect of the majority of the players and the early apathy of Lightbourne's reign has evaporated.

Numbers are up for training, the squad were unlucky in St. Vincent and showed flourishes of genuine brilliance on Sunday. But, like everyone else in international football, they need more games.

Bermuda were the odd goal away from Kenny Thompson leading them past El Salvador in the World Cup qualifiers and if they want to replicate or improve upon that in three years, then constant football is required.

Shaun Goater, John Barry Nusum, David Bascome and Damon Ming can get exposure whenever they like to full-time opposition, but the guys back here can't.

Sending everyone away is a) unlikely and b) would destroy the domestic game. So the answer has to be as many games as possible. Santos come here, Bermuda play great against them. But then why not have Bermuda play against them again before they fly home.

Yes, allow one other set of players a chance ? a Tuesday game at a smaller venue against a development side ? but then return on the Thursday to the NSC for more of the same.

That formula worked for Nicaragua's visit, two big crowds at the NSC, two great atmospheres and two great practice games for the national side (one with the Goat, one without). And that should have happened again.

Yes, it was nice for multiple domestic champions Dandy Town to have their day of glory ? and they certainly deserve it after the sad loss of Randy Swan ? but how much does that help Bermuda football long-term?

Their national team players may have got a second chance ? and that's good ? but are the other guys more deserving of international exposure that Lightbourne's squad?

The Select side, were it just a purely developmental one, would have also been the perfect opponents. Santos could start some of their reserves and Bermuda's 'B' team would learn what it's like to play top-class opposition. But when the Select side features veterans, how much good does that do for the next World Cup campaign?

The tour was a great idea and hopefully has proved enough of a money-spinner to ensure that future tours can come in. But two national team games at the national stadium is surely the more productive formula.

Questions about whether compulsory drug testing should have been applied for the other two games also should arise, on the off-chance that any potential national team players put drugs before country knowing that they can still get a game against international opposition for club or select sides.

Well done Clyde and co. But next time, somebody (and that somebody should probably be the BFA) should insist that national team football comes first.

Give the national side two games and if Dandy Town players want some glory, get into Lightbourne's squad and do it that way.