A last minute recall to national team duty has given Southampton Rangers forward Rohaan Simons a new lease on life.

And now the energetic 26-year-old hopes to repay national team coach Kenny Thompson?s faith by making the most out of his second chance to excel on the big stage.

Simons played for the national team under then coach Robert Calderon and represented a local select which defeated the Jamaican Under-23 national team 2-1 at the National Sports Centre early last year.

The Rangers player topped the local scoring charts in 1997 with 19 goals. But not even that impressive accomplishment could prevent him from being overlooked for the Island?s 1997-98 CONCACAF commitment.

Now, Simons reckons he has a point to prove.

?I think I have to prove to myself that I can play at that level. Having been given another opportunity I hope to make the best of it..

?It feels great to be back because I?ve always aspired to be in the national team. I think the coach (Thompson) has faith in me and the confidence in me to play at the higher level and I feel that I have a lot to give,? said Simons following Wednesday night?s workout at the National Sports Centre.

Being dropped from the national team in 1997 proved a bitter pill to swallow, Simons recalled.

?That was a heavy blow. I was pretty much on the top of my game at that time . . . but I was also young. Now I have matured and I know the game a lot better than I did in 1997. But I think that experience helped me to grow,? he added.

In the past, the speedy player has endured more than his share of injuries and is presently shaking off a minor ankle injury suffered during Rangers? FA Cup loss to Boulevard last Sunday at Southampton Oval.

?It?s (ankle) coming along pretty well. I?ve been receiving therapy every day (this week) and my physio has given me the OK and at the moment I feel pretty good,? he said. ?I?ve had some pretty difficult injuries in the past but at the same time you just have to ride through those types of things. If you really love the game, then you can overcome those sort of adversities.?

During last month?s crushing 4-0 loss to Barbados, coach Thompson received heavy criticism for what appeared to be a more defensive minded approach to the game. But with Simons and his Rangers? team-mate Otis Steede, PHC striker Stephen Astwood and Hamilton Parish forward Clevon Hill now coming into the frame, alongside the likes of John Barry Nusum, Ralph Bean Jr and Khano Smith, the coach has plenty of attacking options from which to draw

?The way Kenny has the team playing at the moment, to me it is more of an attacking team. There?s a lot more punch up front ? not just me. I am just another piece to the puzzle and I think you will see the team create more chances to score next week,? continued Simons.

?You have players such as Khano Smith, Stephen Astwood, Damon Ming, Ralph Bean Jr, Jared Peniston. I could go on and on. You have a lot of guys who can get the job done up front and so everyone should look for us to be competitive against Trinidad.

?The morale of the team can?t get any higher and everybody is playing for each other. There?s no selfishness and everyone is giving their all. I?m not going to make any predictions but I think we are going to put on a good show.?

Scoring a hat-trick against Hamilton Parish last month boosted Simons? confidence in front of goal.

?I was scoreless during the first half of the season. But at the same time it?s not about scoring all of the time. Playing domestically for Rangers I?ve just been assisting with the goals but to bag a hat-trick (against Parish) was really a boost,? he said

?I think that gave my confidence a little boost to see that I can still bag them. But at the same time in the national programme basically you have to work your heart off because the goals will come. It?s just the commitment you have to put in.?

Bermuda Football Association yesterday announced the withdrawal of Prospect from the Women?s League.

The club were forced to bow out after encountering difficulties fielding a team throughout the season which resulted from an exodus of players during the last transfer period.