Ming ready to turn pro
Former Somerset Trojans and Bermuda national team forward Damon Ming could officially launch his semi-professional career in the UK at Barnet FC this Saturday.
Ming, 25, has applied for and is expected to receive a full British passport today which would enable the Bermudian to suit up for the current English Nationwide Conference leaders on Saturday against 12th placed Woking at Underhill Stadium.
It was learned yesterday Barnet coach Paul Fairclough originally had planned to include the Bermudian in last night?s squad that took on the manager?s former club, Stevenage Town, in an LDV Vans Trophy match.
However, Ming?s lifelong dream of playing professional football was again put on hold due to the unavailability of a full British passport which is an essential requirement in the UK for all international players from countries whose national teams are listed above 70 on FIFA?s world rankings.
?Damon (Ming) should be in the squad by the weekend,? confirmed national team assistant coach Paul Scope yesterday. ?He actually would have been in last night?s squad. However, he couldn?t play because he hasn?t got a full British passport.
?But he has now applied for one and received all the necessary documents and should receive it hopefully sometime today.
?Damon is doing well and this is just another step closer (to playing professionally) and obviously Fairclough is looking to put him in the squad.?
Barnet currently top the Nationwide Conference with a record of ten wins and just one loss. In their last match the North London club drew 1-1 with Scarborough ? former club of newly appointed national coach Kyle Lightbourne ? to hold onto a slim one point lead over second-placed Hereford United whose side included Bermuda?s Kentoine Jennings and Meshach Wade during the 1990s.
Meanwhile, Ming?s compatriot Kevin Richards ? also at Barnet ? has now opted to play part-time football in the UK and is currently seeking employment in the insurance business.
?Damon has definitely improved and according to Kevin (Richards), he has made a significant improvement in training,? said Scope, adding the player had now been ?officially? released from local club Somerset Trojans.
The diminutive forward led the Trojans in scoring last season and netted a memorable hat-trick on his World Cup debut for Bermuda against Montserrat at the National Sports Centre earlier this year.
A graduate of High Point University, Ming has also undergone trials with the Atlanta Silverbacks in the US and at English Division Two side Oxford United.