Shaun Goater will put on a North Village strip for the first time in 15 years tonight.

The former Red Devil, whose professional career took off after he left Village in 1988, will captain his old club against Manchester City's Under-18 youth squad who crushed a local Under-18 Select 7-1 on Wednesday night at the National Sports Centre.

In a swap of sorts, Bermuda's promising teenager LoVintz Tota - Wednesday's man-of-the-match - will suit up for City as reward for his outstanding play, with Goater on the other side against his current club - something which could occur again next season should another Premier Division club offer the talented player a contract in the UK.

Goater still has a year remaining on his present deal with City but has opted to move on as manager Kevin Keegan sticks to his `dream pairing' of Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler.

Frenchman Anelka will be on hand tonight at the Sports Centre to present City match kits to the eventual winners of a pre-match Under-18 penalty shoot-out involving local schools and clubs.

"I'm really looking forward to mixing it up with some of the old boys and some of the younger players," said Goater yesterday, amongst an eager bunch of youngsters patiently standing in line for an autograph from the City icon at Saltus School Field.

"A lot of the players were probably coming through Village's mini-minor ranks when I was finishing my last days with Village. So it's good because I'm sure that they will be excited playing with me and it will also be good for me to play alongside some of Bermuda's best."

In reference to Wednesday evening's poor turnout at the Sports Centre, Goater attributed the recent row between Bermuda Football Association and the Ministry of Sport to the low attendance.

"I think that was something to do with the BFA. But now the public know that the game tomorrow (tonight) will go on and that I will be playing," he said.

"We've got a penalty shoot-out with some of the schools and clubs because what we're doing is donating a Manchester City kit to that team (winners) and Anelka will be on hand to present them."

On an even brighter note, Goater said he was pleased to see Tota, who scored the local team's sole goal midway through the second half, receive just reward for a sterling performance.

"He's (Tota) going to have a rare experience," added the City star. "And that experience is that he's going to meet up with the Manchester City team for the pre-match meeting. He's not just going to be showing up for the game. He's going to meet up with the team around 3.30 p.m., have a pre-match meal so that he's obtained the proper carbohydrates and then he will be present for the team meeting.

"So he will be inside a professional dressing room and will have an opportunity to see how it all operates and how they talk about team strategies and tactics.

"And I hope that it all works out because if he plays well, then they will be looking for him to go across to England for trials. And he deserves that for what he's done thus far."

Meanwhile, Goater boldly offered his prediction for tonight's contest which kicks off at 7.30 p.m.

"The prediction is that the `Goat' will score," he declared with a smile.