Devonshire Cougars striker Chae Brangman has landed a one-week trial at Premiership team Stoke City.The CedarBridge Academy student will travel to Stoke on Sunday, hoping to impress the coaches and fulfil his childhood ambition of becoming a professional footballer.The 18-year-old has scored 18 goals this season for Cougars in all competitions, including an 18th minute hat-trick as a sub in Cougars’ 4-1 win over Robin Hood last October and two goals against Somerset in a 4-2 win in the same month.He also netted a late equaliser in a 3-3 draw against Wolves and the last minute winner against PHC at Southampton Oval. This is his first full season with the Cougars senior team and now he is looking to make the most of the opportunity that has presented itself at Stoke where another Bermudian, goalkeeper Dale Eve, is in the Academy team.Brangman was spotted after nearly 100 pre-selected student athletes from Bermuda’s middle and senior schools took part in the HSBC Bermuda and Bermuda Bermuda Brazilian Football School’s third annual College Prep School Festival recently, where scouts from the United States, Canada and England visited the Island for five days to train the youth players, aged 11 to 21, on skills and techniques required when playing football at college and professional levels.As a result of evaluation of the players by Brett Mosen, HSBC BBFS College Festival International coaching director, to BBFS President Dennis Brown and CEO Cal Blankendal, Brangman was offered the opportunity to attend a week-long trial at Stoke and will undergo that trial during next week’s school break.“It’s an honour for Bermuda’s Brazilian Football School and our sponsors to announce that another of Bermuda’s talented student athletes is following his ambition of a pro career in its infancy to see if he can make it. There is also the option of him attending college as he has already applied to various universities,” said Blankendal yesterday.Mosen says Brangman is deserving of the opportunity, having impressed him for a couple of years. “We have been tracking Chae’s progress via the HSBC BBFS College Prep School Festival event over the past couple of years (2011 and 2012), from which Chae was identified as a player of potential,” said Mosen.“Following the festival event in February, I spoke with my colleague Barry MacLean who represents a number of players within the MLS and English Premier League. Barry was instrumental in the recent transfer of Breck Shae from FC Dallas to Stoke City, so based on this relationship, Stoke City seemed an obvious starting point where we can measure Chae’s progress.“I think Chae has all the tools required to make it in the game, the platform is set and now it is up to Chae to prove himself at the next level.”Brangman, who supports Manchester United and lists David Beckham as his favourite player, acknowledges that the road towards a professional career is a tough one, but stressed he is looking forward to the trial experience at Stoke, the oldest club among the 20 Premier League clubs.“I’d like to first of all thank my sponsors HSBC, XL Group and Amlin for giving me the opportunity through the college festival, also my club and my school for also providing the opportunity to go to the festival, and also my family for helping me pursue my career by getting a trial with a team in the Premier League,” said Brangman. “I think this is a great opportunity for me.“I know it is going to be real hard because of the competition. I’m not familiar with it and I will have to adapt to the environment. But they (other players) have the same goals and dreams as me and want to go to the same place as me.”Said Blankendal: “Chae has to go to fight for what he wants, he earned this on his own merit and was seen at the college festival last year but he was very young. This year he has matured under the tutelage of Dennis Brown and Cyril (Dago) Steede at Devonshire Cougars and now he has to go out there and do it for himself.“BBFS Bermuda is proud to support the educational and football development of Chae Brangman. Chae is not only a football player but also an outstanding student and youth volunteer trainee coach at BBFS Mid-term Camps. Upon his return from Stoke City, Chae will be coaching at the BBFS Easter Mid-term Camp (April 1-5) to pass on his skill sets to the next generation of Bermuda student athletes.”Brangman has been used primarily as a sub for Cougars this season, as the club brings him along slowly, but he still crucial goals as Cougars won the league for a fourth time.“”Our efforts have proven that Bermuda has the talent and as long as we support our student athletes, they will continue to develop into outstanding citizens,” said Brown, who was Brangman’s age when he went to trials at Luton Town back in 1982.“Having first coached Chae at the age of 14, I wish Chae much success in achieving all of his sporting and academic ambitions. BBFS wishes to congratulate Chae, his parents, CedarBridge Academy and Bermuda Football Association league champions Devonshire Cougars in aiding in his development as an individual and athlete.”