Burkhard Ziese, Bermuda's Director of Coaching, indicated that despite a respectable performance by the Select during Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat, the country's young prospects were bound to find the going far more difficult.

"It will be very, very hard for the Olympic team to beat this team,'' said Ziese after Tuesday's game. "Some of the young boys who will be in the Olympic line-up were used as substitutes on Tuesday and it will be a bit tough on them in particular.'' The coach added: "The US players are a few years ahead of us here. It's not only this difference, but our local league has to be better because what we saw here in the first game is the outcome of local football. So you cannot produce anything better.

"You have to put the seeds in the ground, water them so they can grow up to become good plants. You cannot expect that of football here as long as we have mediocre football here, which is the case.'' While Ziese attempts to improve the standard of the national teams, his immediate goal of formulating the nucleus of teams for the Olympic and World Cup campaigns hits the road tonight in this game.

Ziese added that the local players must not be overawed by the reputation of the visitors, many of whom have recently signed contracts to play in the new professional league that is scheduled to get under way in the United States after the World Cup this summer.

Ziese, proud of the fact that the senior players never surrendered on Tuesday despite having just six training sessions, is going to be asking for the same fight and determination from the Olympic team in hope that they can be competitive.

The coach will be hoping that hard work may open holes in the defence during the early stages, similar to Tuesday when midfielder Devarr Boyles caused the crowd to roar in praise of his fierce shot from just outside the box -- an effort that was deflected just wide after it seemed destined to end up in the far corner of the goal.

After settling down, the Americans displayed some fine touches and are expected to be more composed this time around.

Meanwhile, Shawn Goater and Kyle Lightbourne yesterday returned to their professional teams in England after playing the full 90 minutes on Tuesday.

Goater, who headed Bermuda's lone goal after just 12 minutes, said that he enjoyed the game and thought Bermuda did fairly well.

"The US players made their presence felt by just playing simple soccer, they did not do anything exceptional. We made mistakes and it cost us, that's what happened,'' said Goater.

Lightbourne of Third Division Walsall said he was delighted at being called back to represent his country and reckoned that the interruption would not affect his professional progress.

"I don't think I will be affected in any way when I go back, it's just that when I come here it's a bit warm and I have to adjust to playing on the smaller pitch,'' said Lightbourne.