Harare — Young and talented Zimbabwean players stand a chance of winning soccer scholarships to the United States of America if they manage to impress United States coach Jeff Cook who is set to arrive next week.

Cook, who is the head coach for the men's soccer team at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, is arriving in Harare on Monday. This will be Cook's second visit on a similar mission to Zimbabwe in as many years after he came with Frans O'leary who is a coach at Bowdo in College.

Cook's visit is being facilitated by Bekhimpilo Nyoni who runs the BN Soccer Development coaching clinics during school holidays. Nyoni said the US coach will be looking at players who are talented as well as academically gifted. "It is a pre-requisite that those who get a scholarship to the United States colleges or universities should have good Ordinary and Advanced level results.

"So these are the kind of players Cook would like to bring to the United States on soccer scholarships. "The players will develop in their football as well as pursue an academic career at Dartmouth College," said Nyoni. Already, Zimbabwe has former Amazulu player Patrick Daka, former Highlanders' striker Mkhokeli Dube and Joseph Kabwe who went on soccer scholarships.

Young Zimbabwean athletes like Shingirayi Nyagura, Gwinyai Chingoka (both tennis), Kirsty Coventry (swimming), Malvin Bonde, Gabriel Mvumvure (both track) and Tara Nyikavaranda (basketball) have gone to study in the United States on sports scholarships among several others.

"As BN soccer development we have organised a coaching clinic at Belgravia Sports Club on March 4 so that Cook can have a look at the players aged between 17 and 22 years. "This ideally is the age group that has achieved O and A-level and can still pursue a four-year degree programme and have a football career ahead too. "If they impress Cook, the players should sit for a scholarship aptitude test before they can be given a scholarship. "Last year, we had 25 players and five of the players had been shortlisted.

"I appeal to clubs and schools with players who meet the criteria to bring a $40 million administration fee and their own kit at 8am in the morning," he said.