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Bermuda's under-19 coach Arnold Manders is backing his young guns to cause a few surprises when they compete in the senior Premier Division competition this season.

The youngsters, including rising Southampton Rangers star Malachi Jones, St George's new recruit Rodney Trott and Warwick batsman Chris Douglas, will compete for the national U-19 side rather their regular clubs.

The move has caused friction with some of the top club sides who will be denied the services of their best young prospects.

But Manders said country had to come first.

The U-19s will play in the first round of Premier Division fixtures, giving them eight practice games before they head to the Sir Gary Sobers tournament in July and on to the Americas Championship in August, where the winner qualifies for the World Cup.

Manders said the idea was to give the team some serious match practice before they went away to compete.

"We know we have the talent to qualify (for the World Cup). From previous experience by the time we have got gelling we've been on our way out. Playing in the Premier Division should mean we don't have that problem."

Manders said the players had been given a choice - play for the under-19s and travel to the World Cup or play for their clubs and stay at home.

He and fellow coaches Andre 'Doc' Manders and Clevie Wade have a training squad of around 30 players, including the likes of World Cup star Jones. They will name a 14-man squad each weekend with the rest being released to play for their clubs.

"We know we are going to meet resistance from the clubs but they have to look at it from a national point of view."

Manders said the team had been training three times a week since January.

"They are fitter than the national team, I know that. I expect they will be fitter than most of the club sides too. We will be a dangerous side. The boys are looking forward to the challenge and we could surprise a few people, particularly with our bowling"

Jones, Rodney Trott, Bailey's Bay leg-spinner Tre Govia, Cleveland's Tamauri Tucker, Warwick's Lamar Richardson and Kieron Trott, another product of the Bay youth system, will be the bowlers to watch.

The continued absence of Oronde Bascome means the batting is weakened but Manders has high hopes for the likes of Douglas, Dennico Hollis and Jordan DeSilva, The U19 team will only play eight of the 16 Premier Division games and will not be eligible to be relegated or to win the title. Points scored against them, however, will count in the final standings.[[In-content Ad]]

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