Arlene Andrews has lauded Bermuda?s successful negotiation of five matches in seven days in the ICC Trophy as a victory of another kind.

The team nutritionist, who awaited the news of the Island?s World Cup qualification just as eagerly as everyone else on Thursday, yesterday hailed the fact that the Island?s cricketers withstood the tournament?s rigorous format as a testament to the combined effect of their training, fitness and nutritional programme.

?Playing back-to-back games like that obviously proves that they have made significant changes in their nutritional intake as well as their physical fitness obviously,? she noted.

Having worked with the squad from January to late May, she expressed great satisfaction with their progress and attitude in embracing her advice.

?They were really committed to what they were doing. What we were trying to get across to them is that at the level they are at, they are now looked upon as professional athletes, and we stressed the adjustments and guidelines that they need to follow now that they are in that league,? explained Andrews who worked alongside team physiotherapist Daniel Morgan to get the players in shape for their Ireland assignment.

?I think they took things to heart and they accepted the fact that nutrition had a key role. They were making major improvements and they stayed the course.

?They did the work and made the changes and they have my utmost respect for sticking to the programme.?

Over the past month, she maintained contact with the players via e-mails and offered the benefit of her wisdom about their diets while travelling.

?We talked about them being in England and Ireland and the fact that the food being provided isn?t appropriate for players and we discussed guidelines and what they should and shouldn?t do.?

However, now that Bermuda has advanced to cricket?s Big Time, much harder work will be necessary to match the Test-playing countries in 2007.

?It?s a matter of sticking with it. Cup Match and Christmas are coming so it?s a question of allowing yourself to still live a little but also follow a healthy lifestyle,? reasoned the nutrition expert, acknowledging ?the players would obviously need a little break? before jumping back into their strict training/nutrition programme.

Asked if she thinks their stunning results would inspire the players to continue in a healthy vein, she replied: ?Definitely and that?s what we were saying to them ? that the changes they?re making now, don?t see them as short-term changes. See them as lifestyle changes.

?Also the changes they?re making are changes they can incorporate into their families. It was not about putting them on a special diet plan that the rest of their families can?t follow as well.

?Again, the mental thing for them is going to be realising these changes have only just begun and now is the time to sit down and reevaluate what they are doing and where we go from here.?

If need be, she stated, more changes would be instituted ?to take them forward?.

?It?s going to depend on their mindset. It?s a case of saying ?Okay, great, we?ve gotten to this level now we really have to get that much more serious.

?I think the Bermuda Government is going to have to look at it too if we?re really trying to get these guys to be on the professional level. Compensation is going to have to be discussed because these guys are amateurs training to play against professionals.?

Andrews, who was at work when Bermuda achieved their historic cricketing feat with victory over the USA, was very proud of her guys.

?It?s great. It?s fantastic. I watched it on the news last night but I was actually at work when I first heard it on the radio. I was thrilled.

?It shows you what hard work and dedication and a little heart can do. It?s great to see all their dedication has paid off,? declared the 31-year-old.

?They are going to have a lot of work to do when they return but this is a well deserved victory which they should savour right now.

?It?s fantastic for Bermuda ? for our cricket and for sport in general, just putting us on the map again.?

The self-confessed sports fanatic admitted her stint with the team has boosted her interest in the game and she looks forward to understanding it even better in the future.

?Though I love sport, cricket wasn?t focused on at my school. This has definitely increased my exposure to it and my understanding of it.?