win his starting job back.

The 24-year-old yesterday spoke publicly for the first time since he was sensationally left out of the team on the eve of Sunday's 1-0 first-leg triumph over Haiti at National Stadium.

"My heart is still there,'' he said. "I'm going to stick in there in training and earn my spot back. It was disappointing, I don't even like to talk about it. But it's just another obstacle and I've got to deal with it.'' Smith was named Bermuda's captain in February but ordinary performances in the 2-1 loss to Norway and the scoreless draw in Jamaica forced manager Gary Darrell into a re-think, especially with playmaker Kenny Thompson returning to the set-up.

So distraught was the midfielder that he stayed away from the match after speaking to Darrell on Saturday morning. "I listened to the game on the radio and was behind them 100 percent,'' Smith said. "I was happy when we won. It encouraged me to come out and do my best. I am not a quitter.'' On Sunday, Darrell only said that Smith's dropping was a "selection decision,'' but the player revealed that he was left out because of a lack of mobility.

"I thought everything was all right but he said that I wasn't mobile enough,'' he said. "I suppose I've got to work even harder on it.'' Smith is in the engine room of a Boulevard team whose brand of soccer is the most admired in the Island. Last season under new coach Andrew Bascome they won the league and FA Cup double and followed that up by taking the Dudley Eve Trophy and finishing runners-up to PHC in the league.

Smith added: "At Boulevard we are used to playing with one another. In the national squad I still feel it could work. It takes time to blend with others players and every time you look there is someone new.'' Smith met with Darrell and his fellow squad members during a video session last night for the first time since he left Palmetto Bay Hotel after his `world collapsed around him' on Friday night.

Would he accept the captaincy again, knowing the consequences of a loss of form? "Sure I would accept it. At first he (Darrell) said he was grooming me and now I am just dropped. I would like to know how it all turned around so fast.'' Shawn Goater, who scored Bermuda's winner against Haiti on Sunday, was at it again on Tuesday as he struck twice in Rotherham's 3-0 away victory over Wrexham.

The result left the Merry Millers needing only a draw from their home match with mid-table Chesterfield on Saturday to clinch promotion to Division Three.

Bermuda's under-19 national squad leave for the CONCACAF Youth Tournament in Vancouver, Canada, today.

Bermuda open their involvement in group B on Sunday against the United States.

Additional matches follow on Tuesday against Costa Rica and Thursday against Trinidad and Tobago. Bermuda's group is based in Kelowna.

ALBERT SMITH -- Listened to Sunday's game on the radio.