Willie Clemons Raring To Go For Bermuda
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermuda midfielder Willie Clemons said he is thrilled to return to international football following a lengthy recovery from a severe knee injury.
Clemons ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] while playing for English non-league side Braintree Town and underwent knee surgery almost a year ago before a lengthy rehabilitation process.
He recently signed for Felixstowe & Walton United in the Isthmian League North Division, scoring twice already this season and hopes to hit the ground running when Bermuda start their Concacaf Nations League campaign against the Dominican Republic in Antigua and Barbuda today [September 7].
Coach Michael Findlay’s side, placed in League B group D with Dominican Republic, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica, face the host nation on Tuesday.
“It’s been a long road and a lot of hard work to get me back here,” Clemons told Bernews. “Being involved with the Bermuda team again is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”
Despite the gruelling rehabilitation, Clemons found the silver lining in his injury.
“Maybe the injury came at the right time in a strange way,” said Clemons, who was last part of the Bermuda team in June 2022.
“In terms of my career and life after football, it did give me some respite to sort some of those things out, which was a blessing. I’m not at all upset about how it’s played out.”
Clemons, who has scored three goals in 31 appearances for Bermuda, said he has quickly settled into his new club.
“I’ve dropped down two levels to find a place that fits me,” he said. “The main thing is to enjoy my football again and play consistently.
“I’ve scored a few goals, and the team is hoping to do big things this season.”
One of the few remaining faces from Bermuda’s historic Concacaf Gold Cup campaign in 2019, Clemons believes there is no reason why Bermuda should not aim to win promotion to League A.
“We’re on an upward trend and hopefully we can start getting the results we deserve as a group,” he said.
“We’ve been close to piecing together a complete performance [under Findlay] and have just been lacking in a few areas.
“Hopefully, I can bring some international and domestic experience and help get the team over the hump.”
It will be the first time Clemons has worked under Findlay, who was appointed the Bermuda head coach in August last year.
“I spoke to the gaffer a few times on Zoom before meeting up. I like the direction we’re going in and it’s been very positive.”
