Lightbourne: Nothing is beyond Bermuda - Royal Gazette

Colin Thompson

Published Oct 10, 2019 at 8:00 am (Updated Oct 9, 2019 at 9:44 pm)

Quiet before the storm: Bermuda’s players relax during a training session at North Field as they prepare for their Concacaf Nations League match against Mexico in group B of League A at the National Stadium tomorrow night. Bermuda are second in the group behind Panama on goal difference (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Kyle Lightbourne says his team will be gunning for another upset in the Concacaf Nations League against Mexico at the National Stadium tomorrow night.

While Mexico are the overwhelming favourites, Lightbourne points to his side’s 2-0 win away to Panama in their previous outing in the competition as proof that they can hold their own against the region’s elite.

“We are going to try everything we can to get something out of this game, especially coming off a good result in our last match and see if we can cause an upset,” Lightbourne said.

“The lads are buzzing and feel that nothing is beyond them, so we want to put on a performance in front of our crowd and make everyone happy.

“Mexico are one of the powerhouses around the world, so it’s going to be a difficult task for us and we just want to be able to showcase and show the world that we can compete.”

Bermuda prevailed against Panama with a disciplined and clinical display of counter-attacking play the likes of which Lightbourne has again demanded from his players against Mexico.

“If we can keep it tight for long periods in that match, I think with the forwards we have we always create opportunities. I feel we will take one or two of them. We just have to be concentrating the whole 90 minutes of that match.

“We’re at home, let’s try to do the right things. We need to defend properly, cut out the little individual errors and be able to deal with the problems they cause us.

“We’ve looked at videos of Mexico, we’ve shared it with the players and we need to try and be at our best.”

Lightbourne has urged his players to make the most of home advantage.

“We competed well in the Gold Cup, but at home we can be a difficult team to play against; we know how our pitch plays,” he said.

“Our last outing at home [against Panama] was disappointing, but I think the scoreline wasn’t possibly quite right.

“That’s the way that football is; you let goals in and that’s what the score ends up being and we didn’t take our chances. If we can cut out the individual errors, I think we will make it a difficult game for them.”

Danté Leverock, the Bermuda captain, says his team-mates are up for the challenge and have “no fear” of Mexico.

“We’re excited playing a powerhouse in the region and Gold Cup champions,” he said. “Mexico made the World Cup and have players playing in the top European leagues, so it’s a good feeling to be at this level.

“We feel that we belong here and now it’s time just to keep proving that to the world and proving it to ourselves. We are not going into the game with any fear. We have our players who are playing all over the world as well, so we feel we can get a result.

“This is the start of their League A campaign and I’m sure they want to try and start well, but it won’t be an easy task for them.

“We have our game plan, we know how they play and we are just going to go out there and enjoy it in front of our own fans.

“We were very disappointed in our last home performance, but we weren’t outclassed and always felt we could get a result.

“We did that in Panama and surprised a lot of people. But when you are playing in front of your own fans you always want to play well and win matches.

“It’s always great to play at home and we owe ourselves and the country a good performance compared to last time.”

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