Schools' Annual All-Star Game, despite their unusual low profile visit during the event on January 28.

And according to Clint Smith, Administrator for the Bermuda Schools Sports Federation, there has been an interest shown in at least 12 players from the various coaches from colleges mainly located in the eastern United States.

"The six coaches were fortunate to see one of the highest calibre of games we have had in several years, both in terms of the game itself and in terms of the academic qualities of the players involved,'' said Smith.

But he was quick to point out that while the coaches based their initial interest of players on their playing ability alone, no formal offers of scholarships will be made until the schools themselves are appraised of academic status of the players.

"Everything will depend on their academic eligibility, with the coaches waiting to see what kind of grades the players are going to achieve,'' said Smith.

He also made it clear that the days of universities offering full scholarships are over, a result of the lingering recession.

The Secondary Schools' All-Star Game again included visits from Bermudian Keith Tucker of Howard University, Peter Carringer of the University of Maryland and several other college coaches. But Old Dominion University, where many local players are now students, was not represented because the wife of the coach was sick. The university has indicated an interest in some of the players in the game and have asked Smith to keep them informed.

Smith has also received correspondence from the coach at Colombia University, Dieter Fickir, and the coach of the University of Southern Connecticut, Ray Reid, who are interested in offering scholarships to a goalkeeper, midfielder and striker.

Fickir will get a first-hand look at local players when he brings in a US Olympic team here next month to play a few matches against a Bermuda Under-23 team.