G-Ball Academy, founded in 2017 by head coach Josef Gooden and Bermuda football legend Clyde Best, are enjoying success on their European tour.

The Bermudian boys, aged 14 to 16, have won all three matches they have played in the Netherlands and England. They opened with a 4-0 triumph over London Select, followed by a 2-1 success against AVV Zeeburgia in Amsterdam. Yesterday, Gooden’s side faced London’s Forest School and came out 5-1 on top.

Malik Paynter, a North Village player, Noah-George Outerbridge, Roger Williams and Saezjhor Dent have featured prominently among the scorers in all three matches. Kalen Brunson has also been on target, with his only goal coming against London Select.

Gooden, the academy’s head coach – who took 14 Bermudian-based players to combine them with six domiciled in Britain – emphasised the importance of the annual trips.

“Such tours are very important in the development of the players,” Gooden told The Royal Gazette.

“It gives them an idea of what it takes to get to the next level. It’s also an opportunity for them to be recruited by boarding schools,” the former Somerset Trojans defender added.

“In the development of Bermudian football, these players don’t necessarily get the physicality and the pace that’s over in Europe, so these matches are really good for them.

“The players have so far faced good competition. It took a while for the boys to get used to the physicality and pace, but as the matches progressed, they dealt with it pretty well.

“Most of these players are part of the Bermuda Under-17 Academy, so this trip is beneficial to them in a big way.”

This evening, the Bermudians face an Aston Villa Select in Birmingham, prior to an encounter against Seedorf Select in Manchester on Saturday.

On Monday, Leyton Orient will be waiting for the island’s budding stars, before their last match on tour sees them face a West Ham mixed team at Little Heath Sports Ground, the home of the Hammers juniors.

Best, the academy’s technical director, is expected to be present at their last three matches. The 73-year-old has been tied up with other engagements related to his documentary, and being one of the guests in Tuesday’s Professional Footballers' Association awards ceremony in Manchester.

“Clyde is joining us in Birmingham,” Gooden said. “He was a guest at the awards and he has been doing some stuff for his documentary.

“Our last match is against West Ham, unless another team wants to play against us before we return to Bermuda on September 2.”