Bermuda a chance of a memorable World Cup run.

Although a place in the finals seems too much to hope for, Calderon's more realistic aim is to reach the final group qualifying stage, where they would compete in one of three groups of four, with the top team in each group going to Japan and South Korea.

Whether they actually reach the Super 12 depends heavily on whether Bermuda can put out their strongest team throughout the competition and particularly on whether their four full-time professionals will be consistently available.

Provided Bermuda complete the job safely against the British Virgin Islands at the National Stadium on Sunday, they will face Antigua in the next round.

Antigua, beaten 3-0 away and 2-1 at home by Bermuda in the 1992 World Cup qualifiers, reached the second round with a bye.

Their scheduled first-round opponents Guyana were banned from the tournament as the country's Football Association had been suspended by FIFA over irregularities in an election for the post of president.

"I think we have a really good chance to go a long way -- but I'm sure that's the way Antigua see the draw as well,'' said Calderon.

"If we can get past Antigua, we have a real chance of getting into the Super 12. Qualifying from that group would be extremely tough and I think the most realistic aim is to reach the group stage.'' Calderon was encouraged by the example of Canada, who just a few weeks after beating Bermuda 2-0 in a friendly at the National Stadium, went on to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, defeating the likes of Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago on the way.

Although the Candian side that night was not quite at full strength, neither was the Bermudian team, with star players Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and David Bascome all unavailable.

"Canada were organised and fit and they had a lot of luck, but they still came out winning the Cup,'' said Calderon.

"Even with four or five players who did not come to Bermuda they did not look a much better side than they were that night.

"Every time I saw them play in the Gold Cup they looked second best, but their organisation and fitness kept them in the game. Is there any reason why a team like us could not repeat that scenario?'' Calderon believes the squad has developed well since losing a Caribbean Cup qualifying match to the Cayman Islands in 1998.

"People told us when we went to the Caymans that they were not a good side, but we found them tough to play against, very physical and very fit. We learned a lot from that.

"We have grown into a better team over the last year-and-a-half and we were using eight different players.'' As a player, Calderon helped North Village win the triple crown in 1977-78 and captained the national team, but missed out on playing in the World Cup because Bermuda did not enter the quadrennial tournament between 1974 and 1990.

When he took up coaching with Vasco, he enjoyed instant success, winning the Dudley Eve and Friendship Trophy in his first season in charge. He also went on to coach Hotels and Dandy Town.

His coaching abilities earned him a call-up from national team coach Gary Darrell to help with the World Cup campaign in 1992.

"I helped out as an assistant to Gary in the World Cup in getting the team ready for the home game against El Salvador,'' recalled Calderon.

That game produced what was arguably Bermuda's most impressive World Cup victory, a 1-0 win thanks to a late Kyle Lightbourne goal.

"The little bit of involvement I had in the World Cup was very rewarding, so I'm delighted to be involved more this time around,'' added the coach.

Calderon believes the home-based players in the squad have a difficult transition to make every time they play international football, as he has seen the Bermuda league weaken considerably over the years.

A lack of exposure against overseas teams had also hampered their development as players, but the recent tour of Florida, where a combined senior and under-23 squad took on the professionals of Miami Fusion and Columbus Crew as well as several strong college teams, helped with World Cup preparations.

"The good players we have here are not stretched on a weekly basis,'' said Calderon.

"They are playing against teams who allow them to play in our league. So they have to make a big adjustment when they play for the national team.

"When they played against good teams on the tour of Florida, they had to work much harder, on the ball and off the ball.

"When we played against teams like the US under-20s, the gulf in terms of talent, organisation and exposure was apparent.'' At the time Calderon made his first appearance in the league with Village, he said domestic soccer was much stronger than it is now.

"There were a lot of good players, like George Brangman and Richard Simmons,'' recalled Calderon. "I mean, it was an education to watch those guys play.

"It was good to play in a team like Village. People talk about them `circulating the ball' these days, but that is nothing new. Village have always been known for attempting to play good football. That team was the best team I ever played in.

"The difference in those days was that it was so competitive. When we won the triple crown, PHC had a good side and they should have won the league, but they threw it away.

"I think it's difficult for young players coming into the game now. I think we still have good players, but not a whole lot of football role models like we used to.'' The coach: Robert Calderon (standing) supervises operations from the Hotels bench.

The player: Robert Calderon (right) in action for Hotels.

SOCCER SOC