When Ken Vielands recently took over as head coach of Darton Community College's new soccer programme he quickly sought the help of an old team-mate in his search for new players.

And former Somerset Trojans striker Michael Corday, who played on the same University of Southern Indiana team as goalkeeper Vielands, was more than happy to oblige when he received the call.

Now, thanks to Corday's recommendations two male and four female players from Bermuda will be new students and soccer players at Darton College in Albany, Georgia, in the fall.

"He was pretty impressed with the Bermudian players he had seen and wanted to draw from that same level,'' said Corday, who had kept in contact with Vielands since the pair were in college together about 15 years ago.

Subsequently three female national team players, Catherine Clarke, Stacy Babb and Waynesha Bean -- last season's Player of the Year -- have all been offered full scholarships to play for the college women's team.

A fourth player, goalkeeper Serene Babb who is Stacy's sister, will receive financial assistance from the college this year with the possibility of a scholarship next year.

Two young male players, Corday's 18-year-old nephew Trevor Corday, a midfielder for Ireland Rangers where Mike coaches, and defender Jamel Simmons of Devonshire Colts, will also be attending the college.

"It's a brilliant opportunity because they're offering full rides,'' said Corday who believes scholarships could be offered to Bermudian players on an annual basis.

"We keep in contact and he called and said he got a new job and the budget says `I can offer new scholarships'. He signed the players on my say-so.'' The scholarships had already been offered when Vielands came to Bermuda during the FA Cup final in April to see his new recruits in action. Simmons played that day for Colts against Village while Clarke, Stacy Babb and Bean were also in action in the women's FA Cup final between Rude Girls and PHC Zebras.

Clarke is a midfielder, Stacy Babb a defender and Bean a striker while Serene Babb, also hoping to force her way into the team, is a goalkeeper with Prospect. Stacy, a student at Berkeley, was a recipient of the Denton Hurdle Award recently.

"The girls are in a really good position, with numerous (four-year) universities in that area,'' said Corday.

"You have the Alabama colleges, the Florida colleges, the North Carolina colleges and North Carolina is a hotbed for women's soccer. If they do well they could write their own tickets.

"We had a meeting with the athletes and told them they are the forerunners.

If you do well then obviously they are going to keep looking down here for players. This situation is very good for them.'' Opportunity knocks: Five young Bermuda soccer players are headed to Darton Community College in Albany, Georgia, on full scholarships, thanks to the co-operation of head coach Ken Vielands and Bermudian Michael Corday. Pictured (back row left to right): Stacy Babb, Trevor Corday, Jamel Simmons. Front row, Catherine Clarke and Waynesha Bean. A fifth player, Serene Babb, is on a partial scholarship.