For the Bermuda National Team, 2019/20 CONCACAF Nations League (CNL) qualifying is more than just playing four matches, it's about the long-term growth of the sport in the island country.
"Most definitely the CNL will help grow the game in Bermuda," said Bermuda Justin Donawa in an interview with Concacaf.com.
"We struggle to get games, usually only three a year, so this is all positive for Bermuda. It will help Bermuda football so much. I feel proud and excited to be part of the process," added Donawa, who currently plays college soccer in the United States at Dartmouth College.
Bermuda will certainly have their work cut out for them, as they will face Aruba, Saint Maarten, Central American heavyweights El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.
Donawa says that Bermuda feel like they can compete against all four teams.
"We have the mindset that we can win the Aruba and Saint Maarten games. El Salvador will be difficult. We have to make the most of our opportunities. We'll need to take what is given to us," said Donawa.
Bermuda are coming off a productive FIFA international break in which they narrowly fell 3-2 to Antigua and Barbuda before a 0-0 draw at Barbados.
Donawa feels like there were some important lessons learned in the two matches.
"I think against Antigua we sold ourselves short. We were the aggressor, we controlled the tempo and we feel like we should have beaten them. Against Barbados it was good to get a clean sheet, that's always a positive, but we had chances that we didn't take. Still, it shows that we can compete and the CNL will give us another chance to do that," concluded Donawa.
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