international as far away as Cleveland, Ohio.

So much so that former Boulevard and Dandy Town midfielder Kevin Smith, now married and living in Cleveland, has found himself getting caught up in the success of the Bermuda team.

"I call home regularly to find out what's going on, that's a once-in-a-lifetime thing -- the World Cup,'' said Smith who is back home on vacation with Cynthia, his wife of three years, whom he met while both were studying at Cleveland State University, and daughter Camille who turns two next week.

Smith, still only 26 and with plenty of soccer left in him, has not ruled out returning home once he obtains his degree in Business Administration. He has one more year of school left, having been forced to interrupt his studies because of family commitments.

Nor has the talented playmaker given up hopes of playing again for the Bermuda team, possibly alongside younger brother Albert. "I feel young enough and I keep myself in shape doing some swimming at the university, which is about 15 minutes away,'' he explained.

"Before I left in 1986 I was in the national team. I would do whatever I could to represent Bermuda again. 1986 was the last time I was in the national team, against Haiti at the National Stadium. I was playing with Dandy Town then.'' Kevin, who was with Town when Albert broke into the Boulevard team, was last back in Bermuda two years ago when he played for Boulevard in the Dudley Eve Trophy competition over the Christmas holidays.

He has been playing regularly in the Cleveland area for different teams, including as a semi-professional with a Greek team in both indoor and outdoor leagues. They folded a couple of years ago.

After that Smith had successful trials with professional indoor team Cleveland Crunch, only to be cut two weeks before the season began. Their league, MISL, has folded and they have joined the NPSL, the same league where David Bascome's team Harrisburg Heat is playing.

Smith also had trials lined up with Cleveland-based team, Canton Invaders, but never went through with them. "It was the same year I didn't make it with the Crunch but due to circumstances with my family I ended up not going,'' he explained.

Still, though, he harbours dreams of playing professionally, realising that that will probably only happen in the indoor.

"My goal is to become a pro and I still have that in mind,'' said the former Bermuda youth team captain. "With the United States hosting the next World Cup you're going to see more semi-pro leagues and outdoor leagues.'' Presently, Smith turns out regularly for an amateur team called Samba Boys, who are made up of players from Caribbeans islands, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. He acts as player/coach.

"There are 15 teams in the league and when I left we were 10-0 with four games left,'' he said. "The standard is not as high as Bermuda though I have played with teams where it was as high as Bermuda. There are a lot of older guys and some are not that skillful, though our team is pretty skillful.

"I'm probably not as fit as the guys down here but the skill is still there, from playing indoor and outdoor. I was with the Greek team for two years and we won the indoor league.'' Smith has also won various honours at Cleveland State and is featured prominently in both scoring and points during his time at the college.

While Smith has kept abreast of Bermuda's success in the World Cup qualifying stages, he admits to not being too familiar with many of the new players in the squad, including top striker Shawn Goater of whom he has heard more than he has seen.

"When I was away was when I began to hear a lot about Shawn Goater,'' he said. "I can't remember playing against him.'' The same goes for Meshach Wade and Kentoine Jennings, the other England-based professionals. He can recall seeing goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams practising his skills as a youngster while he was enjoying kick-a-bouts at Dellwood field.

"I grew up with Roy Stevens from Boulevard and I played with Neil Paynter and Paul Cann at Dandy Town.'' Since he has been back Smith has been training with Boulevard, in between getting around and seeing old friends. "I've been getting a nice welcome and it makes me feel good,'' he said.

"I miss my family and friends and just playing. I miss the football because out there the guys don't train like they do here. The dedication isn't there.

I just miss Bermuda itself. I appreciate it more because I haven't been here for a while.

"I'd like to come back and help Boulevard win everything. I feel I can help them out and make them a better team.'' Smith will be following Bermuda closely during the next phase of the World Cup qualifying, which includes two matches against Jamaica. "I feel they can go all the way,'' he said. "The talent is there but they need to stick together and work as a team. There are some guys from Jamaica who play for my team and hopefully we can have a side bet.'' Smith will line up with former Cleveland State students James Paynter, Anthony Trott, Derek Scott and Anthony Bailey in a soccer match later this month at the college in honour of assistant athletics director Merle Levin who is retiring.

KEVIN SMITH -- At training with Boulevard yesterday.