Both found themselves together in the physiotherapy department at the hospital last Thursday having therapy for knee injuries which -- ironically -- were suffered on the same day, February 13.

And the similarities do not end there.

Both are tough-tackling central defenders, both are Government workers -- Paynter as a counsellor at St. George's Community Centre, Smith as Manager, Sports Promotions, at the Department of Tourism -- and both will need reconstructive surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

Each underwent arthroscopic surgery a week apart last month which revealed the seriousness of their injuries.

While Paynter, the St. George's captain, still has hopes of returning to the soccer pitch -- even after an anticipated long layoff -- Smith has played his final match for Second Division side Social Club, or anybody else for that matter.

"I'm finished for good, no more football,'' said Smith, 29, yesterday. "I just came back from a knee injury which was just sprained before.

"I first injured it in January and had five or six weeks of rehab.'' The more serious injury for Smith came in a league match against BAA when he injured the same right knee early in the first half.

"I went up to head a ball and came down and heard a crunch,'' he explained.

The disappointment for Smith is having to miss this year's cricket campaign with his local club Cleveland County. "I'm out of sport until next April,'' he disclosed.

"I'm not happy. Football is not my first love, cricket is. But I have no regrets about playing football. With the nature of the injury, plus my age, I don't need to play any contact sports. Cricket is the one I'm really going to miss.

"I saw Neil last Thursday in the therapy department, he was on one bench and I was on the other.'' Paynter is also facing a long period of rehabilitation to repair his badly damaged right knee.

The St. George's defender twisted his knee in a league match last month against Vasco.

"I had the cartilage repaired but the anterior cruciate ligament is torn and will need reconstructive surgery,'' a disappointed Paynter confirmed yesterday.

"It's something I'm going to need in order to lead a normal life.'' The Bermuda international defender said he will "get it (surgery) as soon as possible'' though he does not know of his chances of playing next season.

"It could be about a year depending on the recovery,'' said Paynter. "I definitely won't be starting it (next season).

"It's disappointing but I'll take it as a challenge, just another obstacle to overcome. It is much more serious than I thought. I'm definitely not going to race it. Once the leg gets in shape I'll see what my options are.'' Paynter admits there is not much improvement on his condition since the arthroscopic surgery and he was limping around with the help of a walking stick at Sunday's league match against Boulevard which St. George's came from behind to win 2-1 and equal last season's haul of 15 points.

The win kept St. George's in sixth place in the standings and boosted their chances of qualifying for Martonmere Cup next season for the first time.

St. George's showed plenty of character in their victory over a Boulevard team that was having its own injury problems with the likes of Wayne Richardson, Dean Boyles and Dwight Warren.

"It was an excellent victory for one, but I had no doubts about the guys going down,'' said Paynter. "And now we've got Martonmere to play for.'' St. George's have had their injury problems with central defenders this season, with Earl Basden forced out of the game with an illness and Philip Bailey missing the early part of the season with a knee injury. His return coincides with Paynter's injury.

Vasco fullback Burton Bruce was still in hospital yesterday in satisfactory condition after undergoing an operation to repair his left leg, which was broken in two places, as well as a dislocated ankle suffered during Sunday's league match against Somerset.

Bruce, a former Bermuda international who had been flown in by Vasco from school overseas especially for the match, suffered the injury early in the second half after going into a tackle. The match was held up for some 30 minutes until the ambulance arrived.