director of coaching has received rave reviews from Bermuda Schools Sports Federation co-ordinator Clint Smith.

Smith emerged from an hour-long meeting with the Ziese impressed with the German's credentials, as well as his overall interpretation as to what role and techniques are to be used in fostering the development of the sport and its participants in the schools.

"Basically he wants to see how we want to utilise his talents, rather than how he wants to use us and that's probably what impressed me most,'' said Smith.

"He doesn't see himself going out there and actually coaching the boys, but to be an overall consultant, similar to what he'll do with the national team.

Additionally he could conduct coaching courses for the P.E. teachers and offer some sort of certification.

"One thing he brings is formal training in Physical Education, he has a teaching background and not just as an on-the-field coach. It's not always easy for coaches to adapt and differentiate between the two.

"Also he has a good sense of humour, which really lends itself well to teachers.'' Ziese returned abroad last week after signing what is believed to be a three-year contract worth $50,000 per annum.

While on the Island he noted the importance of all the relevant bodies maintaining open valves of communication if he and the country are to be successful in achieving the stated goal of improving the level of local soccer.

Smith, though, noted that while the schools must play an important role they are not to be exploited for the sake of the sport.

"We will utilise him (Ziese) to the max and there will be total co-operation between the Department of Education, BFA and him,'' he said. "(But) one role that schools don't and shouldn't play is to concentrate on developing football players at the expense of education.

"Our focus is to use football -- and sports in general -- as a tool to help educate and develop the individual, not make professional players.

"School football is not an incubator for the national programme as some people believe!'' Currently it is estimated that 12 boys are on soccer scholarships in foreign institutions of higher learning and in the past five years as many as 24 to 30 have similarly benefitted from their soccer talents.

Many of these have been borne through the annual Secondary School All-Star game, which annually attracts a multitude of overseas coaches in search of new talent.

Makonnen Hollis, Janeiro Tucker and Donnie Charles were three who garnered scholarships from the 1992 spectacular, although Charles has since returned.

To further promote the importance of education in conjunction with sport a concept is being initiated where awards are to be presented on a biennial basis -- at the end of each term -- to those student/athletes who are able to attain a `B' average or better.

The first are set to be presented in January during a ceremony at City Hall.

"We want to give them something tangible as a reward,'' said Smith. "We're doing everything to make them realise that football is not the `be all, end all'.