Zenawi Bowen has recovered from an illness that delayed his return from the Concacaf Under-20 Championship in Costa Rica this week.

The towering North Village and Bermuda central defender stayed behind an extra day after contracting a stomach virus.

“I definitely would not have been able to fly that day and it was better for me to stay behind rather than travel and probably get everybody else sick,” Bowen said.

“The doctor came to check my vitals and all that. He said I had a stomach virus.

“I couldn’t move and I was throwing up a lot. My temperature went up and my blood sugar was a little low because I was bringing up everything. I couldn’t keep any food down, so that was a struggle there.”

Bowen took ill during Bermuda’s final group match against the host nation at the Estádio Nacional last Saturday and was substituted at the half.

“My muscles were cramping and hurting to the point after having a rub down at half-time I couldn’t get back up,” he explained.

“It hurt so bad, I didn’t even want come out of the changing room.

“I was cramping up in both of my calves and when the doctor treated me that night he said that the stomach virus could have started then because I should have never cramped up in both my calves.”

After taking a shock lead through Oneko Lowe, Bermuda lost the match 2-1 in Bowen’s absence and were eliminated from the tournament.

“I am disappointed that we didn’t get through to the next round,” Bowen added. “But at the end of the day it comes down to the game and what you put in during the game and what happens at that time.

“It was a good tournament. The quality is very high and for us to actually go that far is a big improvement for Bermuda.”

Bowen, the grandson of late Young Men’s Social Club player Mel Bowen, arrived home on Monday night, along with Bermuda head of delegation Kimberley Bean and trained with Premier Division championship contenders Village the next day to make himself available for selection for the crucial match at home to Devonshire Cougars on Sunday.

“This isn’t going to stop me or keep me down,” Bowen said. “I am going to continue, but we’ll have to see what team the coach [Devarr Boyles] picks and then go from there.”

Village are in the hunt for the title in third place, three points adrift of leaders Robin Hood with a game in hand.

• Honduras became the first country from the Concacaf region to qualify for the Under 20 World Cup in Korea after their 2-1 triumph over Costa Rica on Wednesday.