Keishon Smith, the Somerset Trojans coach, has urged his players to make the most of their opportunity against some of the region’s top players at next week’s Caribbean Football Union Club Championships in Haiti.

“Not many local teams get to travel together like this,” said Smith, the nephew of Trojans great George Brangman.

“Most of our footballers only travel through the Bermuda squad.

“Opportunities like these are rare and are a major thing. I’m interested to see how far we can go once this opportunity is over in terms of all the lessons and camaraderie that come with travelling with your club.

“The more exposure our players get with opportunities like this the better they will become.”

The defending Premier Division champions are making their debut in the Concacaf Champions League qualifier as reward for winning a record-tying tenth league title and first in two decades last season.

Trojans are the first Bermudian club to feature in the tournament in four years.

Trojans, who won the Friendship Trophy this season, have been pitted in group two and will play two preliminary-round matches in three days against home side Don Bosco and La Gauloise of Guadeloupe.

Smith’s side start their campaign against Don Bosco on February 24 at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince, before facing La Gauloise in their final preliminary match at the same venue on February 26.

Smith, who took over the coaching helm from Danvers Seymour Jr at the beginning of the season, said his players are “up for the challenge”.

“This is something we are going to take with both hands and see how far we can go,” Smith added.

Trojans’ roster could receive a timely boost with the potential inclusion of some of the club’s players studying abroad.

“We have quite a lot of our college players that are eligible and have made themselves available,” Smith said.

“Things are shaping up quite well while our preparations have also been going along nicely and we’re now just finalising a few things.”

The majority of Trojans’ travelling contingent will start arriving in Haiti on Sunday with the remainder to arrive the next day.

“We want to represent ourselves and Bermuda well so that the next champions are afforded the same opportunity,” Smith said.