years ago during the World Cup qualifying campaign, then coach Mark Trott is confident his Olympic team will get a favourable result in Saturday's first leg qualifier at the National Stadium.

The team, which feared the tie might not even go ahead while the Bermuda Football Association delayed confirming their participation, had a workout on Sunday against an Under-20 team from Augusta, Georgia called Arsenal Football Club.

The local squad came out 5-0 victors in a match that started in the 11 a.m.

heat. And though it will not be as hot when Saturday's game kicks off at 8.30 p.m. the opposition will be much keener as the Costa Ricans seek to take a lead back home for the return match on August 6.

Trott said Sunday's performance was more important than the result itself, and that he was pleased with what he saw from his team.

"I wasn't really concerned about the result, I was more concerned about how we played,'' said the coach. "We were concerned about not making mistakes and particularly playing to the game plan.

"It was a great test for us, we worked a lot on what we hope to do in the game and I was pleased with much of what I saw. There were some things that will definitely have to be ironed out but basically I was pleased by the commitment given by the players. If they carry out the instructions given on game day it should be a very good match.

"They (Arsenal) acquitted themselves quite well. They were extremely organised, showed a high level of enthusiasm and they worked us hard and gave us no breaks.'' Even though the Costa Ricans beat Bermuda 5-0 in their group match at the Pan Am Games in Argentina in March, Trott is very confident the team can take a lead to Central America on the Cup Match holiday weekend.

But to accomplish that he feels support from the Bermuda public will be vital, just as it was in 1992 when Bermuda scored home leg wins over both Haiti and El Salvador.

"It's extremely important for us to have a positive result,'' said Trott.

"My players know what to expect. If they play sensible and take no risks then we must come out of the match, at the worst, with a draw. And if it's a draw we would prefer it being a 0-0 draw.

"I believe they understand that in this type of football the key is to live and see the next day. The pressure would then be on Costa Rica.'' Just as important as getting a victory is not allowing the visiting team to score, for in the case of an aggregate tie that away goal will count double.

That was the case against the Haitians when, after beating them 1-0 here, Bermuda scored a crucial away goal through Shawn Goater which stood up despite the team going down 2-1.

For that reason Trott feels that a scoreless draw would be more to Bermuda's advantage than a score draw. A bad result for the Costa Ricans here in Bermuda would put the pressure on them in front of their home crowd to turn the match around.

"I personally think that if the public supports the Bermuda team then the pressure is on Costa Rica,'' said Trott. "I'm more concerned that the public support the team. I just want the public to come out and support these guys who have made a commitment since April.'' Sports Minister Pam Gordon has also urged locals to rally behind the team.

"We must all participate in restoring football to its former prominence,'' she said over the weekend.

"By coming out to watch the Bermuda game on July 29, we will be showing our support and helping the Bermuda Football Association raise the money they need for the overall expenses of both games.'' She said the financial problems associated with the return of the Under-23 team from Jamaica last December were well documented, but that she was pleased that the BFA "responded positively to the report of the Board of Inquiry into Drugs in Football and that it has agreed to work closely with Government and other agencies to address this issue.'' Unlike the Pan Am Games, no overage players will be allowed to play in the Olympic matches until the actual Games in Atlanta next year when three players over 23 can be used.

Bermuda did not call on the likes of Shawn Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and David Bascome when they last met the Costa Ricans, though their opponents did exercise that option.

"Three of their best players were overage,'' Trott remembered. "But this is where it becomes a great leveller because all the players are the same age.'' The squad has been cut down to 20 with 16 named for the match and 18 being taken to Costa Rica next Wednesday.

"Of the 20, 11 or 12 were with me from Argentina and the eight or so new faces add a nice touch to the team and have made us a stronger team,'' said the coach, who will be assisted by Josef Gooden of Somerset.

Former national team manager Gary Darrell acted in an advisory position in the Pan Am Games and in the buildup to the upcoming matches former national team defenders Wendell Baxter and Dennis Brown have both been lending their experience. Howard University coach Keith Tucker, back home on vacation, has also offered to help and Trott said he is receptive to people with something constructive to offer.

Seven college students -- Keimon Lawrence, Stanton Lewis, Tafari Outerbridge, Aaron Lugo, Janeiro Tucker, Kimandi Binns and Quincy Aberdeen -- have been training with the squad and their experience will be an added boost to the team.

"They bring with them a level of commitment and enthusiasm and are good players,'' said Trott. "They are players who would have been involved with us during the Pan Am Games qualifying and Games proper if their studies were not so pressing at the time.'' Trott admitted the uncertainty of whether the game would go ahead had some affect on the players who continued to train not knowing what to expect.

"Initially it took its toll but now that the players know it's on they are totally focussed on getting the job done,'' said Trott.

"They want Bermuda to come out and give them their full support.'' The winner of the tie advances to the next round in Canada next May against five other countries, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and El Salvador or Guatamala.

The winner from that group qualifies for the Games while the runner-up plays the winner of the Oceania group, most likely Australia.

The BFA will publicly confirm the 20-member squad later this week, with goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams again expected to be confirmed as captain.