Coach Keishon Smith believes the group of players he has assembled this season are good enough to win the Knights their first Island Soccer League (ISL) title.

The Knights have suffered a difficult off-season following the death of goalkeeper Ricardo Tucker, who was killed in the Dominican Republic earlier this year, but Smith is confident they can recover from that setback and challenge for honours.

"We're doing pretty well at the moment, we're training hard," said the Devonshire Colts coach. "We lost our player, Ricky Tucker, in the Dominican Republic and we're upset but we have to move on.

"That's a down point for us but we have a bunch of excellent players that are ready to go.

"The attitude is great thus far, the facility we're training on (BAA Field) is top class so it's looking good at the moment.

"This year we're looking for a championship ring. I believe we've assembled a team that can go all the way."

Smith supplemented his protected players Mikkail Crockwell, Coolridge Durham, Aljame Zuill and Vincent Minors with Kaiya Darrell, Ian Coke, Jamie Smith, Ryan Purnell, Keston Lewis, McQuinn Burch, Frances DeSilva Jr., and Simon Gregory.

West End United's DeSilva and former Bermuda Hogges' midfielder Lewis could prove particularly shrewd signings and are the likely trump cards in Smith's arsenal.

DeSilva was the top goalscorer in the Corona League, smashing 37 goals in the newly formed league, guiding West End United to second place in the standings.

"Frances is a special find, to score 38 goals in any league is good . . . you can see he's putting in his work to get himself ready for the season," said Smith.

"Another player to watch is Keston who is always dangerous.

"When you look at the team we have, you can see I've built for the a run at the title.

"All the teams in the league have quality and John Barry Nusum's team (the Arsenal) is looking good to make a run as well.

"They have a good unit and with his football experience they should be good, but all the teams have different characteristics.

"This will probably be the best season considering a number of the former Bermuda Hogges' players have joined."

ISL commissioner David Bascome established the league to not only help improve the standard of play on the Island but to also help tackle some of the social ills in the community, and Smith feels it's vital the players fully support the Hope4Life programme.

"The league is about taking care of the players and now it's time for the players to embrace the league as well as Hope4Life.

"We're a part of the whole brand and we must get out there and help in times like now.

"We need the community to be behind the brand as well so it's important the stands are filled this year.

"I think we (Knights) have the biggest fan base and our motto is 'If you don't have a team, wear green'."