Devonshire Cougars pair Domico Coddington and Kwame Steede have taken their football talents to Atlanta in pursuit of a professional career in the United Soccer League (USL) First Division.

The first Bermudians to undergo trials with USL side Atlanta Silverbacks since John Barry Nusum and Damon Ming in 2002, the Cougars players left the Island yesterday for Atlanta where they will be put through their paces over the weekend.

Trials are limited to 50 players per session.

?This experience will certainly help improve their games and the hard work that goes into becoming a professional player which is a far cry from being an amateur,? commented Cougars coach Andrew Bascome.

Last year saw Coddington, Bermuda Football Association?s current Most Valuable Player, complete a second straight season representing Oakville Blue Devils in the Canadian Professional League and venture to Italy to undergo trials with Serie C club AS Acireale.

?At the professional level sometimes you have to play even when you don?t want to,? Bascome continued. ?You have to rise above the way you feel and get the job completed. But I do believe they have the necessary tools to carry out the instructions of the coach and so a lot will depend on them.?

Devonshire Recreation Club official Eugene Joell was instrumental in acquiring trials for the two youngsters.

The Silverbacks, who finished eighth in the USL First Division last season with an overall 15-22 record, are due to take on Puerto Rico Islanders in their season opener on April 21 at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Puerto Rico.

Silverbacks, whose ranks contain the likes of Jamaican international defender Fabian Dawkins, Ghana?s Joseph Afful and Brazilian Adilson De Lima, are scheduled to play 28 matches this season spread across the USA, Vancouver, Montreal and Puerto Rico.

The First Division club narrowly missed a play-off berth last campaign and will be looking to improve on that performance this year.

Bascome described the USL as a ?suitable? launching pad for perhaps bigger and better things to come for Steede ? who made his Bermuda senior national debut in 2004 ? and Coddington.

?You have to start from somewhere and this opportunity will also benefit the rest of the team when they return,? he added.

Bermudians are no strangers to the USL as Khano Smith (now with Major League Soccer club New England Revolution) and current North Village player/coach Dwayne (Streaker) Adams had playing stints with the Carolina Dynamo and Charlotte Eagles in 2003.

Cougars have the weekend off as Premier Division football takes a back seat. The Big Cats take on fellow league title contenders North Village in their next outing on February 5 at Bernard Park.

Bascome, a former Red Devil, said: ?Hopefully we can get a favourable result against Village. And that is certainly a challenge within itself.?

The coach has scheduled a practice session this Sunday while Coddington and Steede are due to return to Bermuda next Monday.

Meanwhile, it was learned yesterday that former Devonshire Colts, Somerset Trojans and Bermuda international forward Damon Ming officially signed with UK Southern League Premier Division side Aylesbury earlier this month.

?Damon played for them last Saturday and had a decent game,?said senior national team assistant coach Paul Scope. ?I think it?s great and I?m sure Damon?s football will improve.?

Scope also confirmed that Ming would return for Bermuda?s friendly match against New England Revolution at the National Sports Centre on February 18.