the term All-Star.

The best a sport has to offer, thrown together on the court, field or ice. A veritable potpourri of talent combined to provide explosions of high risk and exciting manoeuvres, all for the viewing pleasure of thirsting fans.

While tonight's 18th annual All-Star Football matches (6 p.m. National Stadium) may lack the `Hollywood glitz' of an NBA All-Star Game -- and neither his Airness or the aforementioned trio are likely to be in attendance -- the fervent atmosphere remains.

Parents, students, fans and officials clamour for what is the `crowning glory' of the schools' sporting calendar.

Of great importance to the participants will be to provide an adequate display for the numerous North American college coaches expected in attendance, carrying offers of admission to institutions of higher learning.

Also there is the matter of bragging rights for the victor and coaches Randy Benjamin of the West and the East's Granville Nusum were yesterday both gearing for a tough battle.

"The game plan is based on attack,'' explained Benjamin. "I'm an attack-minded player (coach) and we've got a formation which I think is going to be interesting.

"I've told my players I do not want to stifle their creativity or their individuality, but at the same time it must be used to benefit the team, so they've based it on a team concept.

"These guys are eager and we would like to see the Bermuda public come out and actively support these young men, because it means a lot to them and we need to show them that we're interested in them and how they can perform.'' Meanwhile, Nusum expressed pleasure at being able to work with the boys, albeit on short notice, and Benjamin was confident of them producing a spectacular show.

"It has been an eye-opening experience working with these young men,'' said Nusum, a former goalkeeper with now defunct North American Soccer League New York Cosmos.

"Their attitudes have been great and I have seen none of the negative things that have been said about the young people.

"I think the game will be exciting. Randy and I have worked together before as a team and have similar ideas of how the game should be played, so I think we will see an open, attacking game with a lot of room for expression.

"I have an idea of the way Randy will play...there aren't that many new things in soccer that I'm not aware of.'' Bermuda School Sports Federation administrator Clint Smith meanwhile said that this year's talent pool was comparable to those of the past.

He also told of the scholarship possibilities and criteria for selection, with emphasis placed on more than just the sporting background of an individual.

"As I have said over the years, any player that is capable of making the All-Star soccer match -- either one of the two teams -- and is also capable of maintaining or exceeding average grades, has the potential to get a scholarship or at least obtain admission to some college, university or institution of higher learning in North America,'' said Smith.

"Essentially I would rate the chances of this group of young men that are participating (tonight) as being very high...very high in terms of what the final outcome would be for them.

"Having watched teams train on several occasions I would say that the skill level is on par as any of the previous All-Stars. There are one or two individuals that you will see -- and I won't name them -- that are real sparkplugs.

"Looking at the academic backgrounds of a lot of players I have watched, a few individuals develop over the years who I think would be able to compete at any Division I school on a football level in America.

"The question is `how will they line up on the academic side of things?' "The American colleges all have minimum requirements, so it is important that boys realise that it's not just football ability that's going to get them there.'' Currently, at least 12 Bermudians are studying abroad on athletic scholarships -- all former All-Star players -- and similarly several are enrolled in the smaller junior colleges not offering discounted admission.

Among the most recent recipients are Janeiro Tucker (Essex County College), Tafari Outerbridge (Essex County College), Keimon Lawrence (Howard University) and Sean Simmons (University of Charlestown).

"It is no accident that most of the boys, from the All-Star Games, who go on to American colleges, usually find themselves at one of the institutions that sends representatives to the All-Star matches,'' said Smith.

Parking for tonight's match will be at Prospect compound at a cost of $3, with access to the field via Frog Lane only.

RANDY BENJAMIN -- "We've got a formation which I think is going to be interesting.''