Bermuda's National Football team busied themselves watching TV and playing cards rather then performing on the pitch as Hurricane Gustav neared the Cayman Islands yesterday evening.

The team is currently playing in the Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament in the Cayman Islands, which saw them roundly defeated by Antigua on Wednesday night.

Plans for the rest of the matches have now changed as Gustav, with its 75 miles per hour winds, was within 100 miles from the islands yesterday evening.

However, according to forecasters Gustav is predicted to make a turn in a northwest direction, taking it over open waters and passing near the islands.

Yesterday, The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service issued a statement that urged residents not to venture out and Stephen Wright, a reporter for this paper who is with the team at the Comfort Suites Hotel on Seven Mile Beach, said the entire team was back at the hotel by 4 p.m.

And as the sky darkened and the rain starting pelting down, Mr. Wright said rather than getting concerned about the weather, the team were frustrated by it.

He said: "Obviously the players are very frustrated as they were desperate the get their defeat against Antigua out of their system. This morning they enjoyed a lighthearted kick around inside the hotel's grounds.

"There has been some torrential rain today and heavy winds but the hurricane has not arrived yet.

"All the players are currently relaxing inside the hotel, mostly watching television, playing cards, sleeping etc.

"On Thursday, team manager Stan Bean brought the team's supplies from the supermarket. His hotel room has become the official supply room, where the players can go for food and drink throughout the day.

"Everyone's pretty relaxed and not really worried at all."

The weather has meant Bermuda's match, which was against St. Martin, was called-off. Bermuda's final fixture is now scheduled for Sunday against Cayman, while Antigua play St. Martin.

Last night the team hotel was reported to have been sandbagged against flood waters,