Young Bermudian footballers are in line for assistance in fulfilling their sporting ambitions from one of the Island's most successful soccer sons.

Harrisburg Heat midfielder David Bascome is hoping that, in his new capacity as the American club's assistant coach, he can help aspiring professionals from Bermuda secure trials with the Heat. It's part of his continuing efforts to contribute to the development of footballers here.

"My being assistant coach gives me the opportunity to try and filter some players through from Bermuda and that's my aim right now," said Bscome. "I've been talking to various players - I can't say their names right now - but when I come down in the summer I'm going to be looking at some of them."

Having evaluated the Island's top juniors, Bascome will discuss prospects for a try-out with the club he has represented for the past decade.

"I'll be targeting players who are about 18 and looking to move on in football. I'll be evaluating these players over the next two years and, according to how they perform, I would bring the head coach and perhaps the team's owner down - or maybe the players will come up to Harrisburg - and give the most promising ones an opportunity to try out," he explained.

North Village coach Scott Morton described Bascome's initiative as "an excellent opportunity for all young Bermudian players".

He noted that footballers here must "get outside their comfort zone of Bermuda in order to make it professionally".

"I think they need a lot more discipline in their lives - not just in their sporting activities - but in their personal lives in order to make it. This is a good opportunity with someone like David. I know him very well and what he stands for and the sacrifices he made to achieve the status he has. It's a lot of dedication and hard work he has put in," said Morton.

In addition to this venture, Bascome will be assisting Village - his Bermuda club - with a fund-raiser while here as well as working with about 80 teenaged footballers from here who are slated to attend clinics in the United States during the summer.

Regarding North Village's fund-raising efforts, he said: "It's a pack-a-thon at one of Lindo's outlets on June 8. I want to help them raise funds so I'll be signing autographs and helping them pack groceries. I think some people will be surprised, having a professional soccer player pack their groceries, but that's the kind of thing we do up here in Harrisburg, a lot of community service."

Monies raised from this event will go towards that club's trip to Harrisburg where their players will have a stint at Bascome's soccer school.

"They will be here for 10 days and I'll be trying to help them by passing on what I've learnt. They (North Village members) will have 30 hours of training. They will also be doing a health and fitness programme and getting two sessions of motivational speaking. They will play some games so it should be interesting, especially being in a different environment," he said.

Gail Martins, who works with Village's youth development programme, confirmed that a group of 27 under-13 and under-15 Village players would leave here on August 24 to attend the David Bascome Pro Soccer Clinic. They will be accompanied by 11 adults, including coaches Kentoine Jennings and Dave Thomas, executive member Maceo Dill and some parents.

Meanwhile, a squad from Wolves will attend a Heat camp - at which Bascome coaches - for the second successive year. Plans are also in progress for a third set of youngsters from another local club to attend Bascome's clinic.