?Mama, we?re going World Cup!?

That simple but telling declaration from her beloved son yesterday was music to Allison Leverock?s ears.

This ardent cricket fan was among the first to speak to the Bermudian cricketers after they completed a 113-run thrashing of the USA to book their passage to the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean ? her phone ringing in the mid-afternoon with her son Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock rejoicing on the other end.

?He called me today after they won and I was so happy. I was screaming, telling him congratulations and all he kept on shouting was ?Mama we?re going World Cup! Get ready! Get ready!? and I said ?My suitcase is already packed? in those exact words.?

The champion spinner, who again mesmerised the batsmen yesterday with a haul of four for 39 in ten overs, was in tears as he shared the history-making moment with his most loyal supporter ? his mama.

She, in turn, basked in the kind of glory that only a parent can truly understand.

?I?m the most excited and proud mother to have a son who has taken wickets and catches in this tournament. I?m proud of my son Big Burls,? she said, invoking Leverock?s nickname.

Allison, who can often be heard vocally encouraging Leverock from beyond the boundary at matches, revealed that before the team left Bermuda the latter ? who turns 34 next Thursday ? gave her a strong indication that this ICC Trophy tournament would have a different outcome for the Island.

?He told me ?Mama, we?re going World Cup? and I said ?Okay, just keep that in your mind and you will go World Cup? and so said, so done,? she said.

?After the game got rained out (against Uganda) I knew those guys were all geared up for the game so I knew they were going to win. I knew it. I had a feeling.

?When he called me night before last (Tuesday night) he said ?Mama, pray for us? and I prayed for them and they came through.?

Allison is already flipping her calendar over to 2007. There?s no time to waste. There are plans to be made.

?The Lord spares my life in 2007, I will be there,? she said determinedly.

At the same time, Nicole Smith was at work, grinning from ear to ear. She too had just heard from her husband Clay; the captain who was sidelined after one match with a hamstring injury.

?Praise God, praise Him. These players have worked really hard as a team. There?s one thing that Clay always says ? there?s no ?I? in team. The guys came to church before leaving and they prayed that they would be safe and that they would do well.

?At the end of the day, they really believed in themselves. They believed,? stated the former national netballer.

?It?s all about teamwork and I think that?s something we?ve been lacking in all of our sports for quite some time ? whether it be netball, cricket, football, whatever. We have to remember that each player is good enough to bring the goods home and it?s just been proven. It?s been a total team effort.?

Describing Clay as ?totally ecstatic?, she noted Bermuda?s success is a great fillip for the future.

?It?s so much bigger than just this team. This is for our youth. They have something to strive for now. Anybody can make that team (for 2007) now. That is the key.

?Now people will believe that ?You know what, I don?t have to look like I?m one of the elite players in Bermuda but if I train hard and work hard and I do the right things, then anything is possible?.?

Smith admitted she was ?definitely contemplating? heading to Ireland for the remaining two rounds of matches with Bermuda assured of no lower than fourth place in the tournament.

?Now, let?s do it all the way. Why just settle for going to the World Cup? Let?s try and win this competition. They are definitely focused in that regard. They feel they can win this.?

She noted that, despite various rumours about the team, there?s so much camaraderie within the unit and their one thought is whatever is best for the team.

?No matter what people in Bermuda think ? cause I?ve heard a lot of nonsense on the call-in programmes about the captaincy ? none of that matters to those guys. They are there as a team and what they have done is awesome,? she said.

Meanwhile, Jamie Cann?s heart swelled with pride at the realisation of what his older brother Lionel and his team-mates had accomplished.

?I?m so excited. Bermuda has done very well. I?m so happy I?m going to book my ticket to the World Cup as soon as possible.

?I?m going to watch a couple games myself. In fact, I think we should hire a ship to take a whole bunch of Bermudians down there to support our team.

?The whole Island should be pleased with what?s taken place.?