Bermuda Cricket Board of Control yesterday confirmed that young St. David's batsman Chris Foggo has become the first player from the Americas Region to be accepted at the University of Port Elizabeth cricket academy in South Africa.

The teenager will leave the Island on January 11 for a course that will run for 14 weeks, thus making him unavailable for the Bermuda tour of Argentina in March.

BCBC president El James, who helped to create the opportunity, said yesterday he was pleased that Bermuda had produced the first player to attend the academy from this region.

"We are awfully excited to help him get this opportunity which will assist in his continued development as a player and a person. It really is a historic moment for both Bermuda and the Americas region," said James.

The academy is recognised worldwide and is structured to assist the players to develop their full potential at various levels both on and off the field of play.

One of its technical consultants is Kepler Wessels who has had the distinction of playing Test cricket for two countries, Australia and South Africa, while the coach is Mark Davis who is currently playing for Sussex in the English County Championship.

Coaches in the programme expose players to the latest coaching methods and equipment, including technique analysis using video equipment.

The extensive programme is backed up by a well-qualified support team consisting of sports scientists from the university's Department of Human Movement Science, physiotherapists, doctors and other experts.

Some of the players to have graduated from the academy in recent years include the current South African Test wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and Mfuneko Ngam and Justin Kemp who made their international debuts against New Zealand and Sri Lanka recently.