Bermuda football coach Michael Findlay is enthusiastic about what lies ahead for his team in the new year.

Findlay, who met with Bermuda Football Association staff and domestic players during his final trip of 2024 to the island over the weekend, has expressed his optimism about the team’s chances in crucial upcoming games.

In March, the Gombey Warriors face a two-leg play-off against Honduras with the winner qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup, while June brings more action for Findlay’s side, with two World Cup qualifying fixtures against Cayman Islands and Cuba.

“We've got an incredibly exciting 2025 coming up,” Findlay told The Royal Gazette.

“The next six months can be an exciting time for Bermudian football. We are one of just 18 Concacaf members playing during the March window, and we need to celebrate that.

“Come June, success could put us in round three of World Cup qualifying in September and our games mean something, whereas other teams are already eliminated.

“Not forgetting that the under-17 boys are also in the World Cup qualification process right here in Bermuda in February. That’s an exciting time for them to be in that level of qualification, but it’s also important for the national programme in itself because that’s the future.”

Findlay used his time on the island to assess players in the domestic league, starting off by watching the top-of-the-table clash between PHC and North Village on Friday before meeting players the next day and witnessing more local action on Sunday.

“In February, we have a planned domestic camp focused on evaluating and assessing our domestic players,” he said.

“We sat down with some of our domestic players to discuss what their programme should look like between now and March, and potentially up to June.

“This interaction gave us an opportunity to set some targets and objectives for the players individually. We really want to work on individual preparation, physically, mentally and emotionally, and it has to come from an individual commitment to wanting to be involved.

“Our interactions were positive and we did challenge the players to be better. I believe the players know that the entire staff and I want nothing but success for them on and off the field.

“But this also comes with themselves needing to display the commitment and accountability to give us the best possible chance of success.”

Last February, a BFA Select XI played two friendly matches against Rhode Island at the Flora Duffy Stadium, and Findlay is planning on more of the same this year.

“We have always planned to have a domestic camp in February, but how that looks is still to be confirmed,” he said.

“We’re not sure if it will include overseas teams or if we’ll just design it to be purely a domestic type of environment.

“Rhode Island was very successful in the USL, which brings other opportunities for them. Their preseason might look different because MLS clubs might invite them to tournaments, so we have to be prepared to deal with that.”

The Canadian also took the time to impart his knowledge with a presentation to coaches undertaking their D licence course, which is run by the BFA.

“I think they enjoyed our time together,” the coach said.

“It is so essential to the long-term growth of the Bermuda football culture that we invest human and financial support around our coaching development programming at all levels.

“If we do that, the young players in Bermuda will receive the essential lessons in the important formative years of growth and education.

“Being asked to interact and discuss coach development is one of the favourite things I get to do in my position. I will always be available to assist in the education of our coaches as we want to not just develop good players and people, but good coaches and consumers of our game.”