Verdes FC (pictured) trains on August 16, 2015, in preparation for its 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League opener against Mexico's Queretaro. (Photo courtesy of Verdes FC)

BENQUE VIEJO TOWN, Belize -- There is a tangible buzz in Belize because the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) is back and a local team is again a part of the annual competition.

Verdes FC is Belize’s first representative in the competition since it played in the inaugural 2008-09 edition, falling 12-0 on aggregate to Cruz Azul in the preliminary round, under the name Hankook Verdes.

A lot has changed for the club during that span. What was once a roster almost exclusively comprised of local players now has some international flair.

“We’ve made some major changes. Now we’ve acquired some foreign players, some high quality players,” Verdes technical director Marvin Ottley told CONCACAF.com. “We have Hondurans, a Mexican, a Trinidadian and a Brazilian. We have eight foreign players. Back then we were mostly local players with only a Costa Rican and a Panamanian.”

All those players make up a squad that Ottley is proud to say plays an “attractive brand of football.”

“We look to manage the ball well and when we do we’re very strong defensively,” Ottley remarked. “We also have a strong counterattack.”

Belize also now has a stadium – FFB Stadium in Belmopan -- that meets CONCACAF standards, giving hope to other Belizean clubs that the SCCL is a feasible objective.

“All the other clubs now believe we have an option,” Ottley said. “It’s a goal for every team in the country, not just for Verdes. The message is very positive.”

Positive is also the way Ottley describes the club’s preparation for its opener on Tuesday against visiting Queretaro.

“We’ve had a full eight weeks of preparation,” noted Ottley. “We had an opportunity to be in the hills of Guatemala for a week. We played seven international friendlies as well as local matches. We’ve done very well.”

The club boasts the nation’s top striker in Deon McCaulay, who scored 11 goals in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as Jarrett Davis, the team’s leading scorer in the past two domestic seasons.

There are some young defenders, including San Leobardo Mendez and Jahron Myvette, while captain Shamir Pacheco anchors the midfield.

“He’s our ironman. He’s in very good physical form and is the reigning MVP in Belize,” Ottley said of Pacheco. “He’s said this is his last run and he’s really looking forward to the CONCACAF Champions League. He’s in great condition.”

The head coach is Walter Salazar, who was in charge of the squad the last time Verdes was in the SCCL. He has coached second division sides in Guatemala, where he was also a player.

“We both come a goalkeeping background, which is why our focus is from the goal going forward,” commented Ottley. “He’s charismatic and very knowledgeable.”

Ottley is also knowledgeable and comprehends where Verdes is seen by outsiders. Call them minnows or underdogs, it’s all the same to Ottley, who believes the club can make a positive SCCL mark.

“The pro league in Belize is still in the growing stage and we know we’re coming in as an underdog against our Mexican rival,” Ottley said. “Very few believe we can succeed, but we believe we can shock them and change the belief of some people. At home we feel very good. We believe we can do well on Tuesday and we look forward to the other matches.

“Our objective is to get out of the group stage, but from the president and the management structure our focus is to put together a team that wins the league again and makes the trip back to the Champions League a reality.”