THREE BARBADIAN schoolboys have qualified for football scholarships in the United States.

The three boys, Andre Sandiford-Williams, David Castagne and Stuart Weekes, impressed leading United States coach Allan Greaves, who visited Barbados last month at the request of the Pro-Shottas club to scout for talented local footballers.

And at least five female footballers – Gabriella Lopez, Soraya Toppin-Herbert, twins Kyshonna and Kycia Knight and Alyssa Yarde – from reigning champions, Pro-Shottas are to attend a college showcase in Philadelphia in November.

Apart from Sandiford-Williams, Castagne and Weekes, who are in line on both fronts to attain scholarships, Greaves said he also spotted other Barbadian footballers with the necessary talent.

These include Brett Carrington, Renaldo Waithe, Jamal Chandler, Graeme Marquez, Kevin Hughes, Andre Leslie, Dario Weir, and Jason Lovell; but they need to get the requisite Scholarship Aptitude Test (SAT).

Greaves also indicated that Demar Evelyn of the University of the West Indies and Carl Joseph of Notre Dame were also impressive while under-17 footballers Damien Trotman of Gall Hill, Robert Jardine of Kick Start, Tyrell Branch, Jabarry Chandler and Tyler Browne of Pro-Shotta, also stood out.

According to the coach, Under-13 footballer Jason Worme is also "an exciting prospect for the future".

Meanwhile, president of the Philadelphia Area Girls Soccer League, Jim Pomillo has invited seven Shottas players to the college showcase in Philadelphia as he is confident they can get a scholarship, either for university or junior college.

Both Greaves and Pomillo believe other players such as Tianna Hackett, Tonya Jordan, and Shanice Stevenson, who played for 2006 women's queens, Genesis, are talented enough to get opportunities.

When contacted, Castagne said he was very upbeat about the prospects and indicated Pro-Shottas has entered a long-term arrangement with both Greaves and Pomillo to ensure they visit Barbados annually to monitor the progress of the footballers.