MIAMI, Florida – The 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup served as the platform for many firsts for the Bermuda National Team. The Gombey Warriors appeared in their first ever Gold Cup, scored their first ever Gold Cup goal and won their first ever Gold Cup match.
With those firsts out of the way, Bermuda can now focus on making the Gold Cup a regular thing, and the opportunity to return to the group stage for the 2021 edition will begin on July 2 in the first round of the Gold Cup Prelims against Barbados.
Head Coach Kyle Lightbourne, who guided Bermuda through the tournament two years ago, will have the luxury of many familiar faces aiding the cause.
Many of the players who featured for Bermuda in the 2019 tournament will be back in the fold. Bristol City FW Nahki Wells, who scored two of Bermuda’s four goals in the 2019 Gold Cup, will be expected to lead the Bermuda attack once again.
Wells continued the fine form he showed in the Gold Cup and carried that into Concacaf Nations League play, scoring three goals, including a brace in Bermuda’s 2-0 win at Panama.
Other attacking players who figured for Bermuda two years ago in the 2019 Gold Cup and will be expected to contribute against Barbados are Zeiko Lewis and Justin Donawa.
DF Dante Leverock, who originally retired from international football earlier this year before changing his mind, is also back in Lightbourne’s team. Leverock scored Bermuda’s first Gold Cup goal in their opening group stage match, a 2-1 loss to Haiti, and is an important presence on the side’s back line.
Bermuda’s two losses in the 2019 Gold Cup were by just a single goal, and in CNL play they had several notable performances, including almost pulling out a draw against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
With so many players back from the team that made the nation’s Gold Cup debut two years ago and that experience under their belts, Bermuda will fancy their chances of making a group stage return.
