The best has yet to come!

That was the chilling message from technical director of Brazilian coaches, Marcos Falopa, just moments after the visiting Santos team had brushed aside a brave Bermuda at the National Sports Centre (NSC) yesterday.

After being held at bay for the opening 45 minutes, Santos exploded for three goals in the second half to kick-off a three-match tour on a winning note in front of a large gathering at the NSC.

And it was a performance which received top marks from the FIFA Technical Advisor and former CONCACAF technical director who has accompanied the touring Santos B side to the Island.

“We saw a few good things today . . . but it could be even better,” noted Falopa. “We will be even better next game, having now adapted to the local environment and we hope to receive an even better performance from our players in the next match.”

Santos have the morning off today to recover but are scheduled to get in a late afternoon practise session at the NSC before taking on Premier Division champions Dandy Town tomorrow night at Somerset Cricket Club.

“We were not too happy going into the dressing room at the half scoreless,” Falopa admitted. “But the coach (Abel) did a good job making some tactical changes and getting someone to mark Bermuda's number ten (Shaun Goater).

“I was very impressed by number ten. He did a very good job and showed a lot of skills. And there were other players on the Bermuda team who performed well.”

Falopa also attributed the coach's half-time decision to revert from crossing high balls into the middle which were often cut out by a “dominant” Timmy Figureido.

“We had to keep crosses out of the air because the ‘keeper (Figureido) was very good with the high ball,” he noted. “He really dominated the penalty area and so we changed to playing the ball along the ground and marking number ten.”

Having now received a small dose of Bermuda football and played in cooler weather conditions, Falopa reckons Santos have adjusted to their new surroundings.

“We just needed a bit of time to adapt and get the feel of the ball - which was a little light - and adapt to the cooler conditions,” he added. “The playing conditions were excellent and we like to play in this kind of weather and on this type of grass and so overall I am very happy with the team and to the people who organised this event.”

Falopa then paid tribute to a Bermuda side he felt should have come away with at least one goal to their credit.

“Bermuda is a very experienced national team and they were not easy,” he assessed. “I think Bermuda were better performers in the first half, but I think they felt it a bit more physically in the second.

“Santos played much better football tactically in the second half along with their individual skills. They had a good rhythm and good overlapping speed and good shooting.

“But Bermuda showed some good attacking football and they created some situations and so they gave more value to the victory of Santos.”

Santos tour organiser, former West Ham striker Clyde (Bunny) Best concurred.

“I thought Bermuda played well,” he noted. “Playing against Latin teams you are always going to be in the game because they let you play football. But what we have to learn is to stop them from playing football.

“And if you can do that then you put them under pressure a bit more. But overall I thought it was a fair result and as long as our players learned something from the match, then that was more important than the final result.”