Pink beach sand and the bluest water I have ever seen. Add coves, caves, and some tropical fish… We truly are in paradise at the beautiful Grotto Bay Resort, located in sunny Hamilton Parish, Bermuda. These Three days have gone by so fast, as they usually do when you are having fun.
On our first day we were greeted by warm smiles and comfy beds. (We had a red eye followed by a five hour lay over in Atlanta) Many of us could not wait to go straight to the beach, located a few steps away from our rooms.
We had a late training session Thursday night. It’s always good to get a run in;, as it helps get the trip out of your system.
The game was the following day and everyone was preparing in their own way, with the game day rituals or superstitions they like to follow. (I have one were I must lace my left boot first, don’t ask I have been doing it since Club Soccer)
Friday night at the local sports complex, in front of hundreds of thousands (ok, it was more like hundreds) the Colorado Rapids squared off against the Bermuda National Team.
The match was a classic display of playing to the level of your opponent. Not being able to break down the gritty and awkward play of the Bermudans proved frustrating for our young Rapids team. As time went on things were beginning to look bleak.
When you play a team of this caliber, the longer you go with out a goal the more life you give them and their confidence grows with every dieing second. Goals can lift you or crush you; in this instance no goals crushed us.
The first half would be much of the same with no midfield play and long ball after long ball. Half time rolled around with both teams scoreless and the Bermudan team was full of life while the Rapids were looking for signs of life.
Second half begins with no changes in either squad, and in this scenario we are hoping for a quick goal to start off on the half right foot. Nope, we start off on the wrong foot!
Bermuda scores two scrappy goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half and seven substitutions are quickly made to our side. With a new crop of players in eager to impress we get under way. Finally with some life our team begins to put pressure on the opponent.
We repeatedly attack at will with a new found energy and get rewarded by good combination play down the flank with a goal. Yours truly was the beneficiary of a good run by Jovan Kirovski and a great square ball by Jacob Peterson. Too little too late, as time was against us. The final result was 2-1; a victory sending the Islanders and those in attendance into pure joy.
It was actually better that something like this happened in pre season rather than in our regular season. I know you hear this all the time, but that’s what these games are for. You get more out of a game like this than you would from a 7-0 win. This gives the Coaching Staff a chance to see how certain players deal with adversity and who they can count on come crunch time.
It really was a great experience on and off the field. Bermuda is one of the most beautiful places on earth. These are the type of things you look forward to as a footballer as not many people can say they had the opportunity to see a place like Bermuda for doing something they love.
New England has gone to Bermuda and Cancun for pre season the last three years, and they have also been in the final the last three years. Coincidence…. I think not.
Sometimes all it takes is a little fun in the sun to bring the group together.
Herc
