Bermuda National Team Faces Challenges Ahead of Honduras Gold Cup…

The Bermuda national team has announced its squad for the Gold Cup preliminary matches against Honduras, missing key defenders due to injury and forward Nahki Wells due to club commitments. Coach Michael Findlay faces challenges in selection but emphasizes the opportunity for player development and internal competition. The team aims for progress and success in international competition.

Bermuda has announced its squad for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary round matches against Honduras on March 21 and 25. While the captain, Dale Eve, returns, the team will miss key defenders Danté Leverock, Harry Twite, and Luke Robinson due to injuries. Additionally, forward Nahki Wells has opted out to assist Bristol City in their promotion pursuits, along with other players like Kole Hall, Justin Donawa, and Andrew Kempe who are also unavailable.

Coach Michael Findlay expressed the complexities he faced in forming the squad given the absence of several first-choice players. He acknowledged that injuries and club commitments posed significant selection challenges, stating, “Our selections for the March camp have brought about some challenges such as injury, club conflicts, and contract status for some players.”

Findlay noted the disappointment shared among absent players Leverock, Twite, and Robinson, emphasizing their contributions since his arrival in August 2023. He remains optimistic about their return for the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in June. The situation illustrates the challenges faced by smaller member associations within Concacaf and presents an opportunity to cultivate squad depth and internal competition.

Among the notable inclusions in the squad are former under-20 player Max Mobray and the return of Lejaun Simmons after a long-term injury. New addition Kieron Richardson joins from Dubai City, while Eusebio Blankendal’s domestic performances have also earned him consideration. Findlay underscored the importance of expanding the player pool to ensure resilience against potential absences.

The qualifying opportunity for the 2025 Gold Cup reflects Bermuda’s progress, with Findlay celebrating their achievement as one of 14 teams from 41 competing nations. He remarked, “Our qualification to the 2025 Gold Cup play-off matches in March is obviously something we should celebrate… It is also a reflection on our programme and the performance of our players throughout the 2024 Nations League matches.”

The squad features the following players:

Goalkeepers:
– Dale Eve (Redditch FC)
– Detre Bell (North Village)
– Milai Perott (Notts County Under-21)

Defenders:
– J’Nai Butterfield-Steede (Barnoldswick Town)
– Julian Carpenter (Paget Lions)
– Kieron Richardson (University of Colorado)
– Lejaun Simmons (Devonshire Cougars)
– Max Mobray (TFC Academy, Harvard University)
– Reese Jones Jr (Binfield FC)

Midfielders:
– Aunde Todd (Sandhurst Town FC)
– Eusebio Blankendal (Dandy Town)
– Keziah Martin (Rushall Olympic FC)
– Ne-jai Tucker (Unattached)
– Roger Lee (AFC Quorn)
– Willie Clemons (Felixstowe & Walton FC)

Forwards:
– David Jones Jr (Dandy Town)
– Djair Parfitt (Glentoran Football Club)
– Enrique Russell (PHC)
– Kane Crichlow (Chelmsford City FC)
– Knory Scott (Lancing FC)
– Reggie Lambe (Needham Market Football Club)
– Sachiel Ming (Syracuse University)
– Zeiko Lewis (Unattached)

The matches ahead represent a chance for Bermuda to demonstrate their improvement on an international platform. Findlay anticipates a robust performance against Honduras, stating, “This is why we play football at the end of the day, to compete at the highest level possible and provide our fans an opportunity to support their team with a dream of a trip to the 2025 Gold Cup.”

In summary, the Bermuda national team faces the challenge of competing without several key players due to injuries and club commitments ahead of their Gold Cup qualification matches against Honduras. Coach Michael Findlay has expressed confidence in the new selections and highlighted the opportunity to reinforce the squad’s depth. The upcoming matches serve as a testament to Bermuda’s football growth and a chance to strive for success on an international stage.

Original Source: www.royalgazette.com