BERMUDA'S still-unfinished National Sports Centre in its current state has, supposedly, a crowd capacity of around 4,500.

With bleachers behind each goal, that figure might even swell by another thousand.

But how would we know? There's never been an event that would put it to the test.

This Sunday that could all change.

After the national football team's astonishing victory just outside of Port of Spain last weekend, it's inconceivable that the NSC will be anything but bursting at the seams when the second-leg World Cup qualifier against Trinidad kicks off.

It's less than two years ago that the team affectionally known as the Soca Warriors represented the smallest country ever to compete at a World Cup finals, where in turn their talent and spirit earned more accolades.

Now, a team full of professionals competing in top leagues all of over the world, are facing the fight of their lives.

Bermuda, with a population some 20 times smaller than their Caribbean rivals, have humiliated them once, to the extent that Trinidad's media resorted to childish insults, such as labelling the Bermuda players "pudgy and sub-standard."

Nothing like sore losers!

Those same 'pudgy' players now have the chance to humiliate them again, and celebrate what would surely go down as one of the biggest upsets since the formation of the region's footballing governing body, CONCACAF.

Additionally, another positive result – a victory, a draw, even a 1-0 defeat – would mean a nation who played in the World Cup finals have failed to advance at this stage of the qualifying competition less than two years later.

The record books might show that few nations have previously suffered such indignity.

There's so much on the line for both sides this Sunday, it's difficult to imagine how anyone with an ounce of Bermudian pride won't be scrambling to get their tickets.

Yet, it's worth noting that traditionally in World Cup qualifiers, the Gombey Warriors have never been able to produce their best when playing at home.

Coach Kenny Thompson – who has to be applauded for turning around a team who just a few months ago might have been labelled a bunch of losers – will be well aware of that.

Four years ago he coached the national team that pulled off a surprise draw in El Salvador at the same stage of the World Cup qualifiers, only to get beaten at home.

Earlier this year, Bermuda had to rely on an away win in Cayman Islands, having been held to a draw at the NSC.

This time, in front of a bigger crowd than attended any of those previous matches, Thompson's men have to take full advantage of playing on local soil.

Hopefully, if the hype generated by last Sunday's victory is any indication, they can run out onto the NSC 'carpet' in two days' time, their ears ringing under a cacophony of screaming applause, their eyes blinded by a sea of red, blue and white.

They'll be feeling the pressure, but that might be offset by the belief instilled during last Sunday's triumph.

And if there isn't already enough incentive, they might want to think about how a positive result could impact on their whole playing career.

Should Bermuda pull off what a week ago might have been considered 'mission impossible', they'll advance into a qualifying group containing the likes of USA, Cuba, and Guatemala.

Those matches will attract scouts from throughout the USA and Central America, possibly even Europe. The games, certainly against the USA, would be beamed into millions of homes via satellite.

But, first things first. As Thompson has already acknowledged, the job's not even half done.

Whatever the outcome, Sunday should be a day to remember.

* * * *

THE delight felt by most golf fans on recognising that Tiger Woods had booked his place in October's Grand Slam of Golf to be held at Mid Ocean Club by winning the US Open quickly turned to disappointment when it was learned a few days later that knee surgery was almost certain to keep him away from the tournament for a second successive year.

But while those who play and follow the sport would have loved to have seen the world's number one in action, there might still be some room for consolation.

Couldn't Premier Ewart Brown, largely responsible for bringing the end-of-season event to these shores, use his persuasive powers to bring Tiger and his family to the Island for a first time during the tournament as his guest of honour?

Maybe Woods might even be fit enough to hit a few balls and hold an exhibition.

At the very least, he and his wife would realise what they had been missing for the last two years, and perhaps the winner of 14 majors could be encouraged to put Bermuda on his calendar for a return visit – with his caddie in tow!

* * * *

NO doubt Tiger himself would have chuckled over the 'storm in a tea cup' which developed this week over this newspaper's decision to put his picture on the front page after his US Open win rather than one that illustrated the football team's success in Trinidad.

Like most, I have neither the time nor inclination to listen to the various radio talk shows, but have been told that one such show spent considerable time debating the issue.

Of course, once again The Gazette was in attendance when the national team pulled off their historic win – while the local radio stations were nowhere to be seen (apparently that additional advertising revenue they're getting from Government is being spent elsewhere).

A full report was instantly posted on this newspaper's website, and because of Monday's public holiday, our readers had to wait until Tuesday when they were presented with the entire front page of the Sports section to learn all of the details.

In between, it's doubtful that our radio stations were able to furnish their listeners with anything but the score (and given their dubious history regarding accuracy, they might well have got that wrong!).

It might be the same this weekend.

Bermudians who have to work or who are unable to get match tickets, will have to wait until Monday's Gazette to 'read all about it'.

Alternatively, they could tune in to the gibberish which is continually spewed out over the air waves.

– ADRIAN ROBSON