Earning a call to national team duty was a “long-time” dream come true for Eusebio Blankendal and an opportunity he is determined to grasp with both hands.The versatile Dandy Town player is one of three new faces that Kyle Lightbourne, the Bermuda coach, has drafted into his squad to face Mexico in their final group game in League A of the Concacaf Nations League against Mexico in Toluca.“I was very excited and I called some family and told them about the news,” Blankendal said“I am very excited, it’s something I have waited a long time for.”The 21-year-old has made a seamless transition to Lightbourne’s squad who have been going through their paces during this week’s training camp in Frisco, Texas.“I have settled down nicely with the team,” Blankendal said. “I feel welcomed by my national squad team-mates.”Blankendal’s call to national team duty owes largely to his impressive early season form that has not gone unnoticed by the national coaching staff. It is a reward he refuses to take all of the credit for.“I have to thank my coaches and team-mates who always push me to do my best,” he said. “It’s easy to have a good start to the season when you have such great players and coaches around you.”Bermuda’s preparations for Tuesday’s vital match against Mexico with a friendly against Major League Soccer side DC United in St Croix, US Virgin Islands today.“I believe the game against DC United will prove to have a good effect because the coaches can see how the team looks before the big match against Mexico,” Blankendal said.The player is presently in good form having played an influential role in Town’s 5-2 Dudley Eve Trophy final victory over holders Robin Hood at Devonshire Recreation Club over the Remembrance Day weekend. Blakendal wreaked havoc with his overlapping runs from deep and assisted with Kwame Steede’s 12th-minute strike that opened the scoring.“Winning the Dudley Eve is something that I believe Dandy Town can use as a stepping stone,” he said. “This is something positive we can take from all the hard work that has been done up to now. “Our confidence has grown tremendously since winning the cup, but we still have a lot of work to do on the training ground.”