RAIN, blow or shine you can bet the matches against visiting Brazilian champions Santos will be played this weekend and next week.

Organisers simply can?t afford for them not be played.

It?s a shame similar resolve isn?t shown by those who run our domestic game.

In the past six days two key matches have been called off on what would appear to be the flimsiest of excuses.

Yes, it?s been cold, wet and windy and we all know Bermudians hate that kind of weather. But is that reason alone to shut up shop?

Since when was soccer a fair weather sport?

Unless the pitch is covered in snow, frozen solid ? hardly applicable here ? or waterlogged to the extent that the game becomes unplayable or dangerous, then there?s no reason why the show shouldn?t go on.

Yet at Devonshire Rec. on Sunday the ground operators decided a smattering of mud along one side of the pitch was enough to warrant postponement ? making their decision even before the referee arrived.

So the much-anticipated clash between league leaders Dandy Town and fellow title chasers Devonshire Cougars never took place, while all three other Premier matches went ahead in what were likely very similar conditions.

That in itself represents an injustice. Why should some teams play in the mud while the two at the top of the table are excused until playing conditions have improved? That hardly follows FIFA?s code of fair play!

If that postponement didn?t verge on the ridiculous, then the one two days later, prompted by Bermuda Football Association, certainly did.

BAA Field, venue for the Friendship Trophy semi-final between PHC and North Village, was deemed unplayable at 10.00 in the morning ? a full 11 hours before kick-off!

Sure it was raining torrents early Tuesday morning and bitterly cold, but by lunchtime the sun was out and a strong wind blowing. By kick-off time there?s little doubt the pitch was fit for play.

Wouldn?t it have made a lot more sense for the referee to have examined the ground early in the evening and then make a decision?

Now, of course, we have a backlog of games which probably means some teams will be forced to play two or three times in the space of a few days.

SHAUN Goater knows a thing or two about playing in the rain and cold.

Living in Manchester as he did for so many years, there were probably times when he thought he?d never see the sun again.

So you can be assured when he steps out to represent Bermuda against the Brazilians this weekend, he won?t give a damn about the conditions.

He?ll be more than happy just to kick a ball again and play in front of those who appreciate his talents.

As a model pro for some 14 years and top goalscorer for every single club for whom he?s played, the manner in which he?s been treated by Reading boss Steve Coppell this season has been nothing short of disgraceful.

Relegated to the reserve team without so much as an appearance on the subs? bench for the past couple of months, there can only be two reasons for the Goat?s fall from favour.

Either Reading are adamant that they won?t pay the extra fee to Goater?s former club, Manchester City, once he?s completed 50 matches ? he?s currently on 48 ? or Coppell simply believes the Bermudian frontman isn?t good enough.

And if it?s the latter, the boss should have had the courtesy of informing Shaun before the season began when there might have been an opportunity to switch to another club.

Now, aside from the possibility of a loan deal ? normally frowned upon by senior players with families because of the amount of travelling involved ? there?s little Goater can do other than remain patient and hope circumstances at the club change.

It?s interesting that among the clubs who inquired about a loan were Bristol City and Rotherham, two of the Goat?s former teams.

Obviously they know a little more about him than the Reading fan who wrote to this newspaper yesterday, describing Goater as a player with ?no pace, no talent, no work ethic and no commitment?.

Given the role he?s played as a Bermuda ambassador in English football for so many years and the enormous success he?s achieved, he doesn?t have to answer that kind of criticism.

But it would be nice if local fans sounded their opinion loud and clear when he plays for Bermuda for what might be the final time this Sunday.