Bermuda have added an extra friendly match to their tour of Florida, with Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew providing the opposition at Altamonte Springs tomorrow.

It will give the World Cup side their third match of the nine-day training camp and makes up somewhat for the loss of last Thursday's scheduled fixture against the New York Metro Stars, who failed to show.

Bermuda Football Association technical director Clyde Best said yesterday: "The Crew called me yesterday and we fixed it up for Wednesday morning.

"It will be good for us to play another professioal team and help the boys to get conditioned to playing against good opposition before the World Cup.

"Things are going well and you can see the players are really starting to benefit from the tour. I just wish we could keep them together for another week.'' But it will be a weakened national side who take on the Crew, as several players have had to fly home early because of the pressures of work and school.

Shannon Burgess, who was only able to join the squad last Friday, was due to leave yesterday and Clifford Roberts and goalkeeper Dwayne Adams will also be on their way home by the time of the Crew match.

Kentoine Jennings, who hasn't played a match on the tour because of a nagging groin strain, is again likely to be unavailable.

So there will be opportunities for some of the Olympic squad to stake their claims for World Cup places.

The likes of young defender David Thomas and PHC goalkeeper Jay Smith, who played a blinder in his one tour match for the Under-23s against the US Under-20s, can expect the call from senior team coach Robert Calderon.

Although all four tour matches so far have been lost, improving in performance and fitness has left players and coaches alike in an upbeat mood as the tour winds down towards Thursday, when the main party fly home.

Calderon said the tour had given him a much clearer idea of who deserved a place in the World Cup squad for the first round qualifier against the British Virgin Islands next month.

"Some have affected their chances in a positive way -- some have not,'' said Calderon.

"You must remember that we do not have our four professionals -- Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne, Meshach Wade and David Bascome, here. And those four will probably start the BVI match, which will make a huge difference to the strength of our team.

"There are not many places for the others to fight for, but players like Rohaan Simons, Kofi Dill and Tokia Russell have shown me they are worth a place in the World Cup squad.'' Last night, the Under-23s were due to complete their three-match schedule with a game against the University of Central Florida in Orlando.