A raging debate is continuing over whether or not Shaun Goater should have played for Bermuda in last week?s Digicel Cup tournament in St.Vincent.

Radio talk shows have been swamped over the past two days with callers voicing their opinion on the Reading striker, many expressing their concern over his absence.

Yesterday conducted its own poll, asking members of the sports community whether they felt the ?Goat? should have heeded the call to national team duty.

One of the most outspoken was Earl Basden, coach of First Division Prospect.

?Each time it has come down to country versus club the unfortunate thing is that Shaun has chosen club,? said Basden.

?My opinion is that he should have made the trip. You only have so many chances to give back and as we get older the chances become less and less.

?Now it?s unfortunate Goater is holding his head. But there are going to be people out there who will say he should have stayed and others who feel he should have gone but Shaun had the opportunity to play.

?And to me if he was that willing to play for Bermuda then he could have negotiated to at least play in one of those matches.?

Bermuda Football Association youth director Kenny Thompson concurred.

?I think the question now is was it Reading?s decision or was it Shaun?s decision? Did Reading say to Shaun ? you cannot go and play for your country as the matches were not a part of FIFA?s international match calendar? or did they leave the decision up to Shaun?

?In my opinion I think Shaun should have made the decision in this case to play for the country because it?s very clear where he stands in the Reading set-up. They requested he stay and then sat him on the bench for 90 minutes with players injured.

?And so I felt in this case Shaun could have helped football move forward in Bermuda.?

PHC Zebras coach Mark Wade agreed that Goater should have joined his compatriots in the Caribbean.

?He has been sending out all these messages to our young kids that it?s an honour to play for your country and I think he failed to demonstrate this to them,? said Wade.

?I think he should have gone and demonstrated that instead of just saying it. What?s going to be their reaction now??

However, local FIFA referee Anthony Mouchette implied the Island?s top striker had made the right decision.

?Based on the fact he has not been able to retain a regular spot in Reading?s team, I think he maybe felt we would get through to the next round and therefore came to his decision,? said Mouchette.

?It?s his livelihood and profession and the main striker was injured and so he thought he had a good chance of making the team.

?But I?m totally surprised he didn?t start (for Reading) and even more surprised he didn?t come on.?

Andrew Bascome, one of Goater?s former mentors, said: ?I really don?t want to comment on the issue . . . but I would like to see Goater play for Bermuda.?

Bermuda Referees Association (BRA) president Richard Knight said he was undecided on the issue.

?I am not going to say whether he was right or wrong . . . but I do feel it?s best to try and represent your country,? he said.

?I have mixed feelings over the whole thing and what you have to first consider is that he is a professional and he has to make a decision that pleases everybody.

?So I don?t think it?s right to say he should have kept his commitment (to the national team) because then again that might have caused a conflict with his profession. A lot of times we don?t know all of the facts. But I would have liked to have seen him represent his country because I think that should be every player?s priority.

?But when your bread and butter is depending on something, it makes a lot of difference and so I think he was looking out for his best interests.?

Somerset Trojans coach Dennis Brown said: ?Shaun knows what?s best for Shaun and so I think he made the decision that was best for him ? and that?s his profession.

?I can?t say he made a bad decision because he has to take care of his profession first.?

Former BFA administrator Craig Darrell insisted ?country should always come first.?

?I think it?s unfortunate for Goater but my opinion that he should come back to represent Bermuda has never changed,? he said.

?It should always be country first. It?s unfortunate every time Goater has to make a decision and then decides to stay, he ends up with the short end of the stick. I guess that?s how things go sometimes but my opinion is that he should have gone. And I think it was very unfortunate his coach asked him to stay and then sits him on the bench.?

Local columnist and political commentator Rolfe Commissiong said he believed the BFA should have strongly exercised their right to have Goater released from his club.

?It must be said the BFA could have insisted that he be released under FIFA rules,? he said.

?But I don?t think he made the right decision and he needs to come to grips with the fact that the glory years are behind him.

?I think he may have one or two years left to contribute to the national effort as a player and so he should take every opportunity he receives to make himself available for the national team.?