GEORGIA, United States:

Jamaican footballers chasing professional contracts overseas will soon get a golden chance to impress. Clubs are coming to them.

Representatives of North American Soccer League (NASL) teams based in the United States and Canada have confirmed they will be in Jamaica next month for a 'combine', where players will have the chance to showcase their talent.

"The league is actively trying to work with the Jamaican professional football league down there, to do combines and things," said Juergen Sommer, director of soccer operations and head coach of Indy Eleven, a US-based team, which will debut in NASL 2014.

" Coming up this winter, in December, from what I hear, we may be in Jamaica for a combine."

Brian Haynes, former Trinidad and Tobago international player and head coach of Atlanta Silverbacks, also confirmed the event and its significance.

great chance

"The combine is a great chance for Jamaicans to show what they can do," said Haynes after his team lost the NASL Soccer Bowl championship 1-0 to New York Cosmos Saturday.

Opportunities for pro contracts in North America are growing, especially with the expanding NASL, United Soccer Leagues (USL) and Major League Soccer (MLS). NASL and USL are generally considered a tier below MLS in playing standard and compensation. But Sommer believes NASL is steadily closing the gap.

"I wouldn't say it's a drastic level below MLS," he said. "(NASL) is really getting better year after year."