Justin Donawa has ruled himself out of Bermuda’s opening 2022 World Cup qualifying matches against Canada and Aruba next month.

Asked does he intend to be involved with the national squad for their March 25 fixture against Canada at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida and home clash with Aruba at the National Stadium on March 30, Donawa replied: “No, I do not.”

As for the reasons behind his decision, the former Somerset Trojans player added: “In a strong position where I want to finish the league off strong with my club without any interruptions.”

Kyle Lightbourne, the Bermuda coach, took Donawa’s decision all in stride. “We have no problem with that,” he said.

“I spoke about it earlier that the players that are in their league, if their league is playing right now, it’s going to be difficult for us to get hands on them in this window. We are going to the United States, they need to quarantine 14 days prior, and it’s just not going to work out.

“We always hope everything can be back to normal. But we have been preparing this whole time without having our overseas players.

“So we wish Justin and his club well between now and the remainder of the season, and we will see him on the next ride.”

Meanwhile, Donawa hopes he and his Solihull Moors team-mates can capitalise on a vote that resulted in the majority of Vanarama National League clubs in favour of the season being concluded.

The league’s fate hung in the balance amid a row over funding to compensate for the loss of revenue brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each club voted on four resolutions on whether or not to carry on with the campaigns or end the season with no relegation and promotion.

Ultimately, the majority of clubs were in favour of seeing the season runs its full course, much to Donawa’s delight.

“It’s positive that the National League has voted to carrying on for the remainder of the season,” he said. “Now for us it’s just about making that count.

“As I’ve alluded to before, we’re making sure that we continue to better our form. Finish this season on a high note and compete to get promoted.”

Donawa is among a trio of Bermudians plying their trade in the Vanarama National League, which also includes Milan Butterfield at Chesterfield and Jonté Smith at Woking.

While the trio’s season will run its full course, the same cannot be said for compatriots Dale Eve (Spennymoor Town), Knory Scott and Keziah Martin (Kidderminster), whose campaigns in the National League North and South divisions were declared null and void.

“It’s unfortunate to see the National League North and South seasons become null and void,” Donawa added. “But at the end of the day the clubs had to look out for themselves.”

Solihull suffered a 2-1 at home to league leaders Torquay United in their previous outing at SportNation.bet Stadium on Tuesday, with Donawa coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute.

Donawa and his team-mates will now look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Meadow Park Stadium today to face Boreham Wood.

Elsewhere, Smith’s Woking will host Torquay in the quarter final of the Buildbase FA Trophy at Kingfield Stadium, while Butterfield’s Chesterfield are away to Stockport County at Edgeley Park in the league.

Also in action today is Nahki Wells, whose Bristol City are away to Swansea City in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Bermuda striker netted his eighth goal of the season and had an assist in City’s convincing 3-1 win away to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in the Championship on Tuesday.

The win was City’s first since prevailing 2-1 at home to Wells’s former club Huddersfield Town in the league on January 26 and ended a seven-game losing streak in all competitions.

Wells’s 37th-minute strike was his first since converting in City’s 3-2 defeat away to Brentford on February 3. All but one of the 30-year-old’s goals this season have been scored away from home.

City are twelfth in the Championship, seven points shy of the promotion play-off places.