Gibbons remains hopeful he can return from England in two weeks' time and be given the chance to help Bailey's Bay regain the Eastern Counties Cup.

The competition gets underway on Saturday, July 18 when champions St. David's meet Bay in the opening round at Sea Breeze Oval.

Prior to his departure on a tour of Africa and the Middle East, Gibbons said he wanted the Counties competition be his cricket "swan song''.

But it now remains to be seen whether the all-rounder, who holds more records in the competition than any other player in its long history, will even be given the chance.

Unconfirmed reports reaching The Royal Gazette are that his absence this season has prompted a call from some club members to omit him from the Counties side.

Gibbons said yesterday he was "not surprised'' at this news but was keeping his fingers crossed that he would be asked to play.

"I am looking forward to returning home and helping Bailey's Bay regain the County Cup and I hope to assist them in any other capacity that I can,'' he said.

"I would like to bow out with some dignity. I've said that this is my last year as a player in Bermuda and I would like to bow out by playing in the County for the last time.'' The top all-rounder noted that he had always been loyal to the club and wouldn't want to leave in the acrimonious manner in which he broke ties with the St. George's Cup Match team and the Bermuda national squad.

While Gibbons still has playing on his mind, he remains excited about the coaching job he has landed in Soweto, South Africa with Napilia Cricket Club -- a position he will take up jointly with Englishman Ben Taylor next June.

Napilia are a mixed club who fielded eight blacks and three whites in the match against the World Select. According to Gibbons, they are prominent in Soweto and have consistently finished in the top three in the league without winning a title during the last five years.