Four of Bermuda?s most promising footballers are set to rub shoulders with some of the world?s elite youth players at next month?s Dallas Cup XXVI in the USA.

PHC Zebras Robert Richardson and Jahnai Raynor and Dandy Town?s Daniel Johnson and Jacqui Simons have been extended invitations to suit up for the Chesapeake Athletic led by Trinidadians Lincoln Phillips (technical director) and Myron Garnes (coach) ? uncle of exiled Devonshire Colts forward Quincy Aberdeen.

The local quartet will depart for the US on March 18 accompanied by Quilton Joell, who was responsible for giving the youngsters a chance to play.

All four Premier Division players will be looking to put their best foot forward as over 400 US college coaches will be present, scouting future talent.

Team Chesapeake will compete in Group A among the Under-19 Division ? one step below the Super League which boasts the likes of youth teams from Boca Juniors, Manchester United, AC Milan, Celtic, Hamburg SV, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forrest.

The tournament begins on March 20 and concludes a week later.

?One thing that is missing in the game in Bermuda is the role we play within the team concept,? said Joell.

?So a lot of the football that we see in Bermuda is based on individualism. Our players might have the technical ability, but when it comes to team concept we lack that.

?So this is an opportunity, through some of my US contacts, to provide a chance for a few of our players to be exposed to quality coaching and hopefully they will gain valuable knowledge from the experience.?

Joell previously attended college in Philadelphia where he forged ties with some of the top coaches on the US collegiate scene.

Town ?keeper, Johnson, 18, said he was keen to test his talents on the international scene.

The Berkeley Institute School and former Under-17 national team ?keeper represented his school earlier this year in a youth tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.

?I hope to gain more exposure playing at a higher level and I?m really looking forward to playing,? said Johnson.

Likewise, Johnson?s Hornets team-mate, Simons, 19, hopes to gain valuable experience during the week-long tournament.

?I want to gain a bit more experience and I?m really looking forward to the challenge,? he said.

?And I don?t have any butterflies as I always look forward to a challenge.?

Zebras defender Richardson, 18, hopes to catch the eye of a college scout.

?Ultimately I?m looking to get a college scholarship,? he said. ?But I also hope to gain more experience playing against quality opposition.?

Richardson?s team-mate at PHC, Raynor, 19, reckons he has an edge, having already been exposed football in the US.

?Hopefully I can get a football scholarship,? he said. ?And I ?m really confident that I will do well because I have already experienced playing football in the US.?

Meanwhile, a fund-raising Youth Football Extravaganza will be held at Devonshire Recreation Club on Friday to help offset costs for the local quartet to travel to Dallas.

Two matches involving Under-14 and Under-19 selects will take place at the Den, at 6 p.m.

A party will then be held at the club immediately following the double-header. Admission for the match is $5 while there will be a $10 admission fee for the post-match party.