AS stalwart and new player-coach Kentoine Jennings attempts to return North Village to the top in the Premier Division ? after finishing a disappointing fifth last season when so much was expected of them ? long-serving senior player Damon Wade rejoins Jennings in a bid to revitalise the team after being away from the sport for several seasons.

It was back after the 2000 season when persistent pain from knee injuries forced Wade to leave the sport after a long, illustrious run with Village. But now he is back and reckons that Jennings is the ideal person to help restore them to championship form of the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Village begin their search for a third title in four years when they take on a strong Devonshire Cougars' team on Sunday at Bernard Park, starting at 3 p.m.

Wade, who two seasons ago acted as assistant to former coach Scott Morton at Village, has been encouraged by the appointment of Jennings as coach and it's his hope that the duo, both 34-years-old, will still have plenty to offer the team on the field of play.

Many Village fans were probably surprised to see Wade return to action, making a celebrated comeback during the season-opening Charity Cup clash 2-0 triumph over Dandy Town on September 11th, and now they are anxiously awaiting to see what success lead ahead for the former teammates.

"I expect a good season and I know that Kentoine will be a successful coach ? he was surely the ideal person for the job," said Wade.

"I came up with him way back as a youth player and we became good teammates over the years at Village. I know he is the ideal coach for the club because he knows the philosophy of North Village ? he's been around here and knows our tradition.

"He also participated in the same coaching course that I did with former club coach Kenny Thompson in Holland three seasons ago and there are only a handful of us in the island who have experienced that style of football."

It wasn't a call from Jennings or anybody else that inspired Wade to return after injuries, marriage and job commitments forced him out of the game of football.

Wade, who has played prominent roles as a forward and midfielder over the years, said that he decided to concentrate on getting into shape to improve his overall health and when he noted that his knees were reacting positively to the intense workouts. That provided the necessary incentive to return to the game he truly loves.

"Yes, that was the case. Thankfully I was able to get myself at a level of fitness which I thought was good enough to play at the highest level. On top of that I really didn't see much of an improvement in the Premier Division and I felt that I could compete," he added.

The link-up with Jennings will be severely tested on Sunday when Village take on Devonshire Cougars who are expected to be a force in local football this season after Andrew Bascome and Gary (Tuba) Mallory moved in to bolster their coaching.

Cougars barely missed out winning the title a season ago at a time when there wasn't much coaching stability in their ranks. The unsteadiness arrived once then coach Albie Smith was forced to have a leg operation. But with that department now having been reinforced by the presence of Bascome and Mallory nobody would deny that Cougars have the potential to reach unlimited heights.

An early derby clash should have nearly as much interest in the west end on Sunday when Somerset Trojans travel to White Hill to take on rivals Somerset Eagles which is a contest that coach Dennis Brown hopes will get his team off to a triumphant start and live up to expectations that they will be strong enough to make an early impact.

In other games out right winners should be Dandy Town over PHC at Southampton Oval and Boulevard over Southampton Rangers at BAA field. All games are at 3 p.m.

In First Division play Ireland Rangers meet St. George's at Malabar; Hamilton Parish take on Wolves at Lord's; Paget clash with Prospect at White Hill and Social Club entertain X'Roads at Bernard Park. Games are at 1p.m.

The lone 3 p.m. fixture will see St. David's host Devonshire Colts at Lord's.