World Youth Cup, Bermuda's Under-17 national team should be applauded for their performances in Trinidad and Tobago.

That, according to Bermuda Football Association president Neville Tyrrell and Youth and Coaching Committee chairman Jon Beard who both hoped that the squad would receive a hearty welcome on their return home from New York at 7.20 tonight.

The pair, however, expressed disappointment over the team's failure to move on after they had stunned hosts and qualifying favourites Trinidad 3-0 in the first match. A surprise 1-0 loss to Netherland Antilles followed and Sunday's 2-2 draw with Barbados sealed Bermuda's fate.

Trinidad, meanwhile, recovered from that opening game loss to win the four-nation tournament with victories over both Netherland Antilles and Barbados.

They now head to El Salvador to meet the host country, Mexico and Canada in another qualifying series in the New Year. The winners will take part in next November's Youth World Cup finals in New Zealand.

"They certainly did Bermuda proud. It's just unfortunate that they were unable to advance. But the fact that they beat the team that went through says a lot,'' said Tyrrell.

Beard agreed that the result against Trinidad demonstrated the team's potential.

"I would hope that the team will be very well looked after, very well feted when they come back because they did do a good job down there,'' said Beard.

The two BFA officials also agreed that the team had been one of the best prepared for a national commitment at any level, citing the fact that they had been training together for some two years and had competed in the two local international youth tournaments sponsored by the Bank of Bermuda.

Tyrrell felt that the same players would now provide the nucleus of the next senior national team.

"I am disappointed that the team were not able to keep their momentum up following their first win, but I think they now understand that the game is won on the field of play,'' added the president.

"I would hope that with this experience under their belts it will help them because this is certainly the team that is going to form the nucleus of our senior national team in years to come. It's been a good experience for them and I am happy that we managed to secure the results that we did against what I consider to be some good young teams down in the Caribbean.'' Tyrrell noted that future plans for the youngsters would see them involved at a national level as often as possible.

But he pointed out that the players would have to continue to show the same commitment as they did in the lead-up to this tournament.

"I hope Bermuda understands that this is a learning experience for these young players. We have gone down this road knowing that it will be at least five to six years before we can hope to hold our own among teams in the CONCACAF region.

"This is the beginning and I applaud these young men for what they have done.

I think Bermuda certainly needs to understand that, yes, they did not get through in this effort but it certainly puts them in a good position for the future.

"I think the group, including the coaches, are a determined group. I don't think that they see it as being the end of the line or anything like that. I am sure they see it as another step in the development process.'' Beard said he felt sorry for the boys whose hopes must have been raised considerably after their early win. But he said he hoped that all concerned would be encouraged by their overall performance.

"They did Bermuda proud. They went down there very well prepared and the fact that they drew against Barbados and beat Trinidad speaks volumes for the ability of the side,'' he said.

"But unfortunately soccer is a hard task master. In the games you should win you don't always manage to win. Obviously had we beaten the Netherlands Antilles we would have been in the driver's seat. But it doesn't always work that way, unfortunately.

"For my money, to have beaten Trinidad in Trinidad was one of the most remarkable results I could have ever hoped for. When you look at the size of the country and consider everything they are pushing into soccer I think it was an absolutely first class result.''