Bermuda will play their Caribbean Cup second-round match with French Guiana today without Andrew Bascome or Drewonde Bascome who have been stricken with a virus while in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Bermuda coach and his midfielder son were deemed too sick to travel to French Guiana, the Bermuda Football Association said yesterday.

The pair are both recovering at the team’s training base in Fort Lauderdale where they spent a weekend before travelling to South America on Monday.

It is hoped that the Bascomes, who were quarantined at the team hotel to prevent the virus spreading throughout the camp, will resume their respective roles for Saturday’s match against Dominican Republic at the National Sports Centre.

“The team are settling in nicely,” Crenstant Williams, head of the Bermuda delegation, said. “In regards to the withdrawal of Drewonde, the team has been in contact with him and are wishing him a speedy recovery as he’s part of the family.

“Then coach Bascome became ill yesterday and hence he’s not able to join us. The team has sent their well-wishes to the coach and are very optimistic he will be on the sidelines for the match in Bermuda.”

Bermuda’s 19-man squad had a training session at the stadium last night, ahead of tonight’s game, which kicks off at 8pm Bermuda time.

“The players are adapting to the conditions and the hospitality of our hosts has been first class,” Williams said.

“The players are focused on the task and are determined to make the country proud. They have a laser-like focus and are ready to let their play do the talking tomorrow night.”

Williams is urging Bermuda fans to send messages of support to the team on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and the BFA website.

Kyle Lightbourne, Bascome’s assistant, will take over the coaching responsibilities while Maurice Lowe, the technical development director, will also lend his coaching experience to the team.

Bermuda are missing several players from the side that beat French Guiana 2-1 in a first-round group match at home in March.

Reggie Lambe, who scored the winner in that match, will captain the team in the absence of Keishen Bean, while Justin Donawa, Tre Ming and now Drewonde Bascome are all missing.

Rai Simons returns to the squad and is likely to lead the attack with Jonté Smith in the absence of Nahki Wells who is injured.

Lambe is expecting a tough away match for the young Bermuda team.

“Any South American country will put out a decent side, so we just need to go into the game and make sure our heads are in it and we get a result,” Lambe said.

Lambe will provide the experience in the team along with Dale Eve, Damon Ming, Jaylon Bather, Danté Leverock and Roger Lee as James Pace, Jahkari Furbert, Jahquil Hill, Jabri Salaam, Quintonio Lema and Osagi Bascome all make the step up to the senior team.

Tickets for Bermuda’s home match at 9pm are on sale now at Ptix.bm and at the BFA office. Dominican Republic and French Guiana will close out the group matches when they meet next Tuesday in Dominican Repulbic.