representing the Island in these Games.

Four goals, all from corners, were disallowed by the official in the match with hosts St. Kitts in their qualifying group, which also included Barbados.

The resulting 2-1 defeat meant Barbados, whom Bermuda held to a 2-2 draw, progressed.

But BFA technical director Clyde Best may draw some satisfaction -- or perhaps relief -- from the Barbadians' opening match here.

They were crushed 7-0 and had two players dismissed in their opening group match against Venezuela, not a team renowned among the usually soccer mad South Americans.

*** SOCCER is an integral part of these Games now, and although attendances for the evening matches have been good, Venezuelans have yet to embrace the game like the Brazilians or the Colombians. Rather, the national obsession here is baseball, which is taking up a good proportion of the 100 hours of TV coverage.

It is such that Venezuela is now the third highest provider of players from outside the US to the Major Leagues, behind Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

*** THE Island's own footballers may not be here but there is a Bermudian presence at the Games in the shape of BFA general secretary David Sabir.

Sabir is down here as one of world governing body FIFA's match commissioners, making him responsible for ensuring everything is as it should be before a ball is kicked -- from the state of the pitch to security for the players.

But more important from Bermuda's point of view is that it enables him to make and renew contacts with many of the football associations in the region, something invaluable in the light of the BFA's plan to get an international match each month in Bermuda.

Sabir confirmed: "Everyone I've spoken to has expressed a great deal of interest, the Central American countries in particular.'' *** BERMUDA'S swimmers have complained about the murkiness of the water in the pool at the Complejo de Piscinas -- but maybe now we know the reason why.

Tamika Williams and BOA official John Hoskins were astounded yesterday when they witnessed a young mother change her small baby's nappy by the poolside and then dip him in to the water to wash him.

SOCCER SOC