place in next year's ICC Trophy competition in Kenya by dropping soccer altogether to concentrate on Bermuda's cricket trip to Barbados in two weeks' time.

The 17-year-old Southampton Rangers opener has accepted the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's request for those squad members involved in both cricket and soccer to give up the latter so as to concentrate solely on cricket.

Albert Steede, Del Hollis and Dale Fox have all hung up their soccer boots with St. David's for the time being, as has Ricky Hill of Hotels. Williams is a striker with Second Division promotion-seekers Southampton Rangers.

A surprise inclusion in the 18-member touring squad announced by the BCBC last week for the trip to Barbados on March 5, Williams said that he is preparing to challenge for a place in the ICC team with renewed enthusiasm. "I'm putting everything into this opportunity. I like playing soccer but in this case I am a young player who has been chosen to tour with a senior team to train for the World Cup and I am putting everything into it,'' said the Warwick resident.

Williams realises that Rangers are in the title chase and that they need as much support as they can get from their players during the crucial weeks that ly ahead, but he is satisfied that the club understands and supports his decision to concentrate on cricket.

The younster, who board president Ed Bailey rates as the brightest young bowling prospect in the Island, is keen to prove that he is a worthy selection among a group of senior players, which include some twice his age.

"Having been named to the touring squad it will be too risky to continue on with soccer right now. I was getting a lot of knocks playing soccer and I decided that it would not be wise to continue playing if I had hopes of doing well on the tour,'' said Williams.

"I was happy to have been chosen to the squad as it was and I am looking at it as being a learning experience where I can pick things up from not only the senior players in the team, but also from those who I play against in Barbados since so many top players come from that Island,'' he added.

Williams has also been motivated by the comments made by Bailey a week ago when the president indicated that the fast bowler will probably be one of those considered to lead the Bermuda youth team in the International Youth Tournament in Denmark next year. He was a member of the previous Bermuda team in the competition held in Winnipeg and took three for 51 in his best performance against Canada.

"I feel Garrick (Gary) is going to become one of the fastest bowlers Bermuda will have,'' said Bailey yesterday. "He's very dedicated and has a very mature approach for a young man. He's head and shoulders above the other youngsters his age.

"Being amongst the senior players you will see a rise in the standard of his performances and he will eventually get a permanent place in the national squad. He's developing into being one of the main players at Southampton Rangers, and at 17 he's handling it (praise) quite well. In the developing of youngsters, the clubs have a fundamental role to play.'' Williams established himself in last season with a steady performance in the Premier Division with Rangers.

GARY WILLIAMS -- Youngest player in national squad.