Tumani Steede has emerged as a 'big target' for Reading Rage who want the Devonshire Cougars striker to fill the void left by fellow Bermudian Tyrell Burgess who signed professional terms with Vancouver Whitecaps last week.

Steede, son of Cougars legend Cyril (Dago) Steede, has been recommended to the Rage by Bermuda Football Association (BFA) technical director Derek Broadley – a former coach of the Pennsylvania-based team.

Rage coach Brendan Burke told The Royal Gazette he believed Steede possessed the same 'unique' attacking qualities as his compatriot Burgess who starred for the Professional Development League (PDL) outfit last term.

"I have spoken to Derek about the possibility of more Bermuda players joining the Rage," said Burke, who alerted Whitecaps of Burgess' potential and acted as his chaperone during his trial at the Canadian USL-D1 club.

"I'm very confident we will have another Bermudian in our team next season. They bring a unique set of skills that the US players just don't have and Tyrell really gave us something different last season.

"Obviously we're delighted for him and moving to the Whitecaps is a fantastic opportunity for him.

"Tumani Steede is a big target for us now and I've heard a lot about him through Derek.

"I haven't seen Tumani play or spoken to him but I trust Derek's judgment 110 percent and Tumani is a player we would like to have onboard next season."

It is understood North Village attacker Keishen Bean is another player who could be heading to the PDL next summer with the Rage interested in adding him to their roster.

Starlet Steede, 18, is one of the most talented of Bermuda's next generation of players and received a surprise call-up to Bermuda's Digicel Caribbean Cup squad last summer after impressing Broadley while playing for the national Under-20 team.

PHC winger Casey Castle and Somerset Eagles utility man Roger Lee were the other rookies whose promising performances helped soften the blow of the Gombey Warriors' humiliating exit from the qualifiers in Cayman Islands.

The Rage captured the 2008 Mid Atlantic Division regular title and won the Eastern Conference play-offs.