This year is shaping up to be a big one for Bermuda Under-17 football coach Cecoy Robinson.

In just over a month, Robinson will be leading his team into the Concacaf Championships in Guatemala, where just two victories will guarantee them a place in the 2023 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Peru in November.

But Robinson’s life as a coach is tougher than most with many members of his squad studying overseas, which is why he is delighted that the festive period offered an opportunity for his players to get together while celebrating Christmas with their families.

“We had most of the guys back over the holidays bar one or two but the majority of the players were here so it was good to get them together and get them back into the groove of things,” Robinson said.

“It is pretty difficult and we are not as able to train that often. But we have touch points over Zoom every other week just to keep the boys engaged and do some video sessions and team bonding things, so that has been good and positive for us to be connected.”

Robinson took the chance to test his squad against some more senior opponents by arranging a match against Premier Division outfit Devonshire Cougars last week and he was pleased with what he saw in the 2-2 draw.

“I thought the game was good for us,” Robinson said. “We deliberately chose that opponent for

the physicality that they may bring to the game.

“I thought we gave a good account of ourselves and to play against that team is probably what we need once we get out to Guatemala. We need to be tough, we need to be robust with and without the ball and that’s why it was a good opponent for us.”

Robinson has made no secret of the talent possessed by the team and his sole focus is on giving them every chance to succeed. With just four weeks left before their trip to Central America, he is looking forward to watching some of his players compete in the Premier Division and First Division this

month.

“I’m actually looking forward for them to play,” he said. “It’s always a worry with regards to injuries as you always want your best players fit and ready. Maybe the next month, we will have no issues with them playing but as we get closer to the departure date we may have to tail it off a bit. The competitiveness of playing senior football will be an asset for us going forward.

With Guatemala firmly on the horizon, Robinson is leaving no stone unturned in his aim to prepare the team for what lies in store.

“We have a meeting this week to go through our thought processes about what to do with the guys on island and just to keep going and pushing them,” Robinson said.

“It’s been difficult in Bermuda with the under-17 league being so stop-and-start. We’ve been doing our best to keep them motivated and keep improving. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since we qualified, but in order to achieve what we want to achieve we have to make sure we can supply the boys with everything that they need to be successful. We haven’t stopped.

“My preference would be to have two or three matches before our first game in Guatemala. Definitely a minimum of two so we can get the squad together, get some games in and then head off to try to qualify for the World Cup.

“This team is really, really good. They all bring different things and individual qualities. It’s been good to get those qualities and bring them together as one unit because they complement each other so well. I’m so impressed with the group.”

Robinson is one highly ambitious coach and keen to take his coaching as far as he can, and he knows how he likes his team to play.

“I like to keep possession,” he said. “I’m an in-possession coach but I also understand that there are times when we don’t have the ball and we need to be as patient as possible and try to control or contain the game as much as we can until we get our moment. Football is a game of moments and

whatever moment we are in, we have to be the best in that moment.

“I have my Uefa B licence, I’m looking to move up to the under-20s and from there I can hopefully start coaching senior team football in Bermuda to keep going and challenge myself. There is definitely a lot of young talent coming through and I gravitate towards the younger players but I’ll definitely look to coach some senior football.”