expects to be playing cricket again in June.

The Old Dominion University senior, who injured the knee last October playing for his college, has been undergoing months of therapy to rebuild the knee and is so pleased with the progress that he expects to be playing for local club St. George's soon after arriving back in Bermuda late next month.

"As soon as I get back I should be okay to play,'' said Minors who will also be graduating with a Recreation Management degree next month.

"I'll have to wear a brace to support the knee but the trainer told me I might be able to do without the brace depending on how the knee comes around to treatment. I'm jogging, running and weight lifting, so I'm on the same programme as before.

I'm really looking forward to graduation. My therapy and graduation are going hand in hand.'' Minors required surgery last year to repair damaged ligaments in his knee and an intensive therapy programme has helped with the progress he has made.

"It's really coming along,'' he admits. "I was out playing tennis the other day and it hasn't given me any problems. I'm training it every day and if I wasn't it would have set me back a long time.'' At first he feared the injury might put an end to his cricket and soccer careers.

"There was a big fear in the back of my mind,'' he admits. "But the doctors told me if I work hard I could get through this so the fear was put away.

Getting back on the field means a lot to me and it has given me inspiration.'' The 23 year old Bermuda wicketkeeper plans to take it slowly even though the West Indies A team will be visiting here soon after he returns.

He knows he will have plenty of time to stake a claim for a place in the Bermuda team for the ICC Trophy in Kenya in February, though he is not looking that far ahead.

"If it takes me into June (to play again) then I'll have to set the date back,'' he explained. "I'm pushing hard because I want them to give me the okay. My main goal is to get back on my feet and just do well in my first game. I'm not even looking at the tour (West Indies A), I'm just going to take it game by game.'' For the fourth time in five years the Camel Cup final will be held at Lord's in St. David's, with one team competing in the competition for the first time.

Already a new champion is certain to be crowned on May 16 following Devonshire Rec.'s failure to finish in the top four at the end of last season.

The semifinals will take place on Saturday, May 15 with league champions Western Stars playing St. George's at Sea Breeze Oval and Willow Cuts making their debut in the event when they take on Bailey's Bay in the other semifinal at Wellington Oval.

Only two teams have won the Camel Cup (which was called the Premier Cup in 1987 and '88) during its six-year history, with St. George's and Devonshire Rec. both having won three times.

Western Stars have been in the same number of finals as St. George's -- three -- but while the east-enders won in 1988, '89 and '90, Stars have lost the last three years.

Stars emerged as the top team last season when they landed their first league championship though Willow Cuts were probably the surprise team of the season after finishing a lofty second place in the standings.

The BCBC First (or Reserve) Division will start on Saturday with nine teams -- Cleveland, Hamilton Parish, PHC, Police, Southampton, St. David's, St.

George's, Devonshire and Flatts -- competing.

The BCBC-Shell Under 17 League will start on Saturday, June 5. Cleveland, Flatts, Hamilton Parish, Somerset, Southampton, St. David's and St. George's are the seven teams participating.