recently but news this week that they have endorsed a hectic six-match tour of Florida involving both the senior and under-23 national squads has to be applauded.

It's long been argued that Bermuda can never expect to advance up the world football rankings unless we're exposed regularly to quality overseas opposition.

And while financial restrictions always provide the most difficult hurdle, it could be that the BFA haven't pursued fixtures with our neighbours to the west as much as they should.

The US is easily accessible, and these days their teams present a far stiffer test than anyone might have imagined 10 years ago -- as the under-23 squad will no doubt discover when they clash with the US under-20 side.

But what has probably made this seven-day, six-match whirlwind trip possible, when previous attempts to secure opposition have failed, is the list of contacts established by technical director Clyde Best both during his playing days in the US and his involvement in the game there after his retirement.

Friends in high places, particularly in today's highly competitive and lucrative world of pro soccer, count for an awful lot.

Best claims to have been working on securing this trip for several weeks and now it's confirmed the timing couldn't be better.

Hopefully, following the national senior team's matches against MSL clubs Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion as well as the University of Central Florida, and the under-23s games against MSL side the New York Metro Stars, the US under-20s and the University of Tampa, those respective squads will head into the World Cup and Olympic qualifiers both match fit and with an air of confidence.

Manchester City's Bermudian striker Shaun Goater only this week questioned the commitment of some of his fellow national team players when asked about his role in the World Cup.

"I hope all the off field stuff is done right. I'm used to a certain standard here (in Manchester),'' he was quoted as saying.

"It would be real disappointing to come back if players have not got clearance to play or to train. That would be disappointing because I would be making a sacrifice in my situation.

"I really don't want to be wasting my time if players don't want to play for the national team because they don't want to be drug tested. I don't want to be coming home if players are not 100 percent behind the effort.'' One would imagine, however, that Goater's concerns have already been addressed. None of the players and officials -- and Best is talking of a party of around 40 -- are likely to be embarking on the Florida trip without undergoing drug tests. And certainly anyone who falls foul of those regulations won't be on the plane to British Virgin Islands for the first round World Cup qualifier in March or the under-23s opening Olympic game in Panama soon after.

But Goater, too, has his role to play. At present, he wants to help Bermuda win by a big enough margin in BVI that he won't have to turn out in the second leg at National Stadium -- instead concentrating on City's crucial league match against current First Division leaders Charlton on March 18.

Yet it's now standard, and stipulated as such by FIFA, that all professionals must put country before club, and it will be interesting to see what might happen should Bermuda lose, draw or only win by the odd goal in BVI. They would then need their very best squad for the return leg and Goater, eager to talk this week about other people making sacrifices, might have to make a huge one of his own.

Meantime, Best, senior coach Robert Calderon and staff coaches Mark Trott and Dennis Brown, all of whom will travel to Florida, have much to do.

While the results of this six-match tour won't be vitally important, the way the players conduct themselves on and off the field will go a long way towards determining who exactly plays in the matches that do matter a little further down the road.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON