Oakville Blue Devils, the Ontario League 1 Champions, will play two matches on the island next month and help prepare Bermuda for their Concacaf Nations League qualifying matches.

The matches will be against a Bermuda Select and a Premier Division All-Star Select will be for the Elite Men’s Cup as part of the Third annual Bermuda Triangle Cup, hosted by Bermuda Sports Management Group.

The first match on April 19 will be held at the National Stadium, while the second will take place at Goose Gosling Field three days later.

“We were approached by Oakville Blue Devils, a semi-final pro team out of Ontario, a high-level team that wishes to come to the island,” Cal Blankendal, of Bermuda Sports Management group, said.

Those players already in the Bermuda set-up and others on the fringe will be able to use the matches to put themselves in the frame for the four Nations League matches later this year.

Bermuda will play four qualifying matches this year, against Sint Maarten and El Salvador at home and Aruba and Dominican Republic away, to determine the groups for the Nations League, which starts in September 2019.

Oakville Blue Devils will also host a three-v-three tournament for male and female players under-9 and older and an over-30s competition.

“They will give back also by being at the annual BFA youth symposium, giving a presentation on youth development and will attend the Bermuda Football Association awards ceremony,” Blankendal said.

It is Blankendal’s connection with Brett Mosen, a former Bermuda resident, who now works with the Blue Devils, that helped make the tour a reality.

“Many thanks to Brett Mosen who is on the technical staff at the Oakville Blue Devils that we are able to get them to the island,” Blankendal added. “There are a lot of footballing opportunities coming.

“We’re already in discussion about them returning next year. There’s already a discussion to make this a round-robin tournament, including a national and under-20 select teams. It’s a win for Bermuda. It’s all about Bermuda being as competitive as we can be.”

Maurice Lowe, the BFA technical development director, said: “Here we have the Bermuda Sports Management Group, the Bermuda Brazilian Football School and the BFA able to collaborate in terms of our objectives for our senior men’s programme, as well as the youth teams.

“We’re very thankful that this opportunity is arising and we will make sure we make the best of it by putting on a competitive match series. We are very happy to have frequent matches so that we can build our performances.”

The BFA is offering an advance ticket, two-match package a $15 for children and $30 for adults. Tickets will also be sold at the gate for $15 for children and $25 for adults.