And being treated like paupers and unwelcome guests in Sri Lanka and seemingly all but forgotten at home makes it no easier. But South Africa A overcame the monsoon trials, the tribulations of local administrative bungling, decidedly dodgy (if not often farcical) umpiring and emerged with character and pride to win the unofficial Test and limited-overs series.
It gives them a fine record since December when they beat West Indies A at home in the unofficial Tests and one-dayers: all of it under the captaincy of Dale Benkenstein.
Yet none of it would have been possible had it not been for some brilliant individual performances and what the coach, Graham Ford, called ``committed team effort from all''.
Equally important there was some quality bowling performances: the spinners Derek Crookes and Nicky Boje along with Alan Dawson's swing and off-cutters at Kurunegala.
If HD Ackerman emerged (with Herschelle Gibbs) among those who have improved his batting craft and technique against spin, so did Crookes as a limited-overs batsman with three performances which should go some way to improving his prospects for next year's World Cup in England. His bowling has also come along in these conditions.
And Martin van Jaarsveld's general form on the tour makes him a player with a bigger future in the national scheme should be build on that fine century at Moratuwa on Saturday. A score of 121 off 111 balls was a display of talent and determination.
Perhaps then, after winning the series at home against West Indies A and the frustrations endured on this tour have some right to grumble about the Rand 27,000 ``hardship'' bonuses paid out to the side in England after losing the series. The A side has had to put up with a lot more on this trip than Hansie and the Boys in England where they lost the Test series.
One factor which needed urgent attention is the sub-standard umpiring levels which has created so much frustration among the players on both sides. Certainly the message (among muted criticisms by team manager Henry Paulse) from this tour is that unless there is something done to drastically improve umpiring levels, South Africa may follow the other countries and refuse to tour the tea island. Australia, New Zealand and India have already indicated they will think twice about touring Sri Lanka again.
On this tour the tourists felt they had to take 30 to 40 wickets a match to win the game which is why the demanding conditions on the field were often as difficult as those off it. Some accommodation was to match the pocket a shoestring budget with players falling ill because of it.
For a tour which was roistered two years ago, the haphazard way it has been run shows that he team's ability to win the four-day and limited-overs series says much for the young men who have the opportunity to be a key part of the broadenings of the base at senior level.
Young players such as Ashwell Prince and Loots Bosman are going to be better, tougher players, mentally and physically from the experience which is what the tour has been designed to achieve: if not in the near future then in a couple of seasons.