Khano impressed by football atmosphere in the Cayman Islands

March 20, 2008

By Beverly Melbourne

For Immediate Release

According to one of Bermuda’s leading newspapers The Royal Gazzette Bermuda’s Professional Football player Khano Smith was impressed by the atmosphere and support of spectators at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on March 30 during the World Cup 2010 Qualifiers return leg game between Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

“That atmosphere was intense and the Cayman players really fed off the crowd's energy, especially during our early sticky spell. I remember looking up into the stands and thinking that the whole island must have turned out to get behind their team! “

“Obviously some of our younger players were very nervous and to be fair to them they wouldn't have played in a match with such a red-hot atmosphere before. It will certainly be a good learning experience for them,” Smith quoted.

Smith said victory over the Cayman Islands was a real team performance the pressure was on us to get the job done down there and credit to the guys, they all pulled through together and it was a real team performance.

Smith kicked off his debut column with The Royal Gazette, by talking about Bermuda's victory over Cayman Islands in our recent World Cup qualifier.

To be honest I didn't have much of a game and my touch just wasn't there. I read in the newspapers before the game that their coach had singled me out for 'special attention' and I suppose that comes with the territory when you play in the MLS.

I must have been fouled about 15 times and I think I've still got the bruises to prove it!

Despite it not being my finest performance for the national team, I still feel I contributed through my extra experience as a professional. But I can assure you, even I was taken by surprise by the atmosphere inside their stadium.

As a senior player it's part of my role to try and settle down some of the younger guys and get them playing to our game plan. Even when I'm not firing on all cylinders I still believe I can have an influence.

Once Sammy DeGraff opened the scoring I felt we were never in danger of letting the game slip. Sammy's goal took the crowd out of it and that was so important.

Now we're looking forward to the challenge of taking on Trinidad and Tobago and I'll be sharing my thoughts on Bermuda's chances in this column over the coming weeks. I certainly don't think they're unbeatable.

For more information on the CIFA FA Cup Competition or other CIFA events contact the CIFA office at 949-5775, email info@caymanfootball.ky or log on to www.caymanfootball.ky