Overseas college players Liam Evans, Oneko Lowe and Tre Ming have answered the call of duty for the Bermuda Select XI’s exhibition match against New York Cosmos at the National Stadium on Sunday.

The trio form part of a youthful squad whose talents will be put to the test against the visiting North American Soccer League champions.

Bermuda Under-20 captain Evans was one of the island’s top performers at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship in Costa Rica last month with strong work ethic and versatility.

Lowe also impressed for the Under-20 side in Costa Rica where his dribbling skills and two goals caught the eye of scouts.

Like Evans, Ming also adds some quality in midfield while his experience at the senior international level will also be an asset. None of Bermuda’s professionals will be involved in the match.

Kyle Lightbourne, the Bermuda Under-20 coach, who is helping to prepare the team this week, said: “The team will be made up of some college students and the rest locally-based players and it will definitely be a young squad.

“This is an opportunity for us to get together again as a unit and we will get a chance to see a couple of new faces and blood some younger players as well.”

North Village defender Jalen Harvey and Devonshire Cougars defender Zeko White are among the other players in the squad boasting senior international experience.

The Cosmos trip, a joint venture between the Bermuda Football Association and the Bermuda Tourism Authority, will be their third visit to the island, having held pre-season camps in 1977 and 1978. Bermuda has strong ties to the Cosmos, with former Somerset Trojans striker Randy Horton and Hotels International goalkeeper Sam Nusum both playing for the side during the 1970s.

Horton played for the club from 1971 to 1974 and helped them win the NASL championship in 1972 as the team’s top scorer and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Nusum joined them in 1975 and played alongside the legendary Pelé.

There is added incentive for Bermuda’s players to impress as Cosmos will be on the lookout for a local youngster to join their B team for their upcoming season, which starts with an away match to Puerto Rico FC on March 25.

The Bermuda player will be awarded a contract with Cosmos’ B team from April 1 to July 30 with a round-trip ticket and a monthly housing allowance also to be provided by the club.

Cosmos are scheduled to arrive on the island today.