Bermuda have soared up to 159 in the FIFA World Rankings, moving up from 171st last month on the crest of two highly creditable performances against Trinidad and Tobago, a 20-0 aggregate World Cup first round qualifying annihilation of Montserrat and two successive wins over Nicaragua (ranked 177).

Since the senior national team intensified World Cup preparations last December with two matches against Barbados, the Island have climbed 24 places from 183 to their current ranking, a feat unparalleled by any other football nation in the past four months.

The highest Bermuda have ever been ranked was 76 in 1993.

Next to Bermuda, the Dominican Republic have been biggest movers, vaulting 19 places to 166 since last December while both Nigeria (21) and Netherlands Antilles (174) climbed 14 spots in the recently updated FIFA rankings.

Bermuda's national team resumed training at the National Sports Centre last Monday while discussions as to possible away World Cup warm-up friendlies against Nicaragua and Guatemala (82) are ongoing, according to national coach Kenny Thompson who admitted he was delighted with the Island's steady improvement.

"It is pleasing, albeit the rankings often fail to tell the full story," he said yesterday.

"Matches are decided on the pitch and often you get teams that are lower ranked that can cause problems. But at the same time it is pleasing from a technical standpoint to see us moving ahead. So we are progressing and to move up 24 places since last December is quite satisfying," added Thompson who has noticed a marked improvement in the team's performances since the ill-fated series against Barbados late last year.

"The players, the entire technical staff and Bermuda Football Association as a whole must be commended on the progress of the national team. . . and certainly all of Bermuda should be proud of what we have accomplished so far," he said.

Thompson, however, noted it was important to recognise there was still a long road to travel to reach the association's primary objective of re-instating Bermuda as a force both in the CONCACAF region and globally.

"We have taken small steps and there is still some way to go and it's important the public at large is patient in the development of the team," he said. "We can get carried away by a few good results and then suddenly everyone thinks we should be competing with France and Brazil - and that's certainly not the case at this time."

The coach said it was equally important from an administrative standpoint to continue to "plug on" with the primary vision and install the proper components for future development.

"It is also important now for the players to look to be as successful as possible in the immediate term and we as administrators try and help the players find immediate success," he added. "But at the same time we must keep an eye on the future and so much of what is being done at this time is trying to strike that balance."

As for training, Thompson said: "We have just got back to football activity (training) and we still have the issue now of many players focusing on cup finals this weekend. So the players (involved in this weekend's matches) have been allowed to prepare with their clubs on Thursday and we will have a very light training session (tomorrow) for those not involved in this weekend's finals."

El Salvador - the Island's World Cup second round qualifying opponents - have dropped in the rankings following a recent 3-0 defeat by Guatemala. The Central Americans slipped down one spot from 100 to 101.

Bermuda take on El Salvador in San Salvador in a World Cup second round first leg qualifier on June 13 before returning for the second leg at the National Sports Centre on June 20.