Not one to blow his own trumpet, Kevin Richards admits to being surprised when he was drafted by the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

Richards, a defender with Notre Dame University, did not attend the MLS Superdraft in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday, instead hearing the news over the phone from his base in South Bend, Indiana.

The 22-year-old Bermudian was selected in the fourth round of the draw by the Denver-based team and, after Shaun Goater, now becomes the second highest profile Island player.

"I was very pleased and a little surprised but happy to get a chance to play professionally," said the player after finishing his university studies for the day yesterday. "I play right back and it's not really a glamour role. I hadn't really heard much about what my chances were up until early January when I found I was an alternate for the MLS Combine (a match that allows coaches to have a look at players that are eligible for the draft)."

Now heading for the big time, it's been a whirlwind few days for the Warwick youngster and will continue to be so for a few weeks to come.

On Sunday he heads to Denver to join up with his new team for a training camp which could make or break his fledgling career.

Richards is what is known as a transitional international, a player from a foreign country under the age of 24. Only 20 are allowed in the entire league and, with the English and political science student insisting on finishing his studies before joining the pros, he has less time to impress his new club than other draftees.

Colorado will run the rule over him for two weeks before he heads back to university. If he impresses then a contract offer will be made there and then, if not he will have to hope the offer still stands later in the year and also not all the 20 transitional spots have been allocated.

"I hope that the skill and the talent that they saw in drafting is the same thing they see when I go up there and play," he said of the challenge. "I am just going to play how I have played every day of my life and put in the hard work and hopefully it will pay off."

Richards, who has also been called up to the Bermuda national squad, did not believe the task ahead of him was onerous.

"For me, football is football," he said. "If you are playing with good players around you and you are doing the right things you should be able to make an impact.

"I think I am a hard worker and I try to be a positive team-mate to the guys around and it's got me this far so I am just going to keep doing what I have been doing."

Richards, who says he has played football since he could first walk, is keen to stress that his success is not all of his own making.

He was part was part of the Notre Dame side that reached the third round of the prestigious NCAA Championship before losing to Michigan on penalties last year. It was a year that also saw the team achieve a top five national ranking and win the BIG EAST Championship.

"The coaching staff and my team-mates have made gigantic strides since I have been here for the past four years," he said. "I definitely wouldn't be the player I am without my team-mates and my coach."

For Richards, the aim is now to emulate his heroes, Goater and fellow Bermudian international Kyle Lightbourne.

"Shaun Goater is definitely a hero for me and Kyle Lightbourne," he said. "Goater, because of what he has done in putting Bermuda on the map internationally and Kyle as a PHC player. I always think of myself as PHC Zebra and I am still friends with all the guys."