Bermuda Football Association (BFA) and Head Coach Michael Findlay have mutually decided to part ways effective today.
Coach Findlay oversaw the senior men’s national team activities as well as provided support to the U23 and U20 teams over the course of his tenure. During his time with the Gombey Warriors, Coach Findlay has been a part of some firsts for Bermuda, and we are grateful for his experience. The team reached the Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims and the final round of the Concacaf Qualifiers Road to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Warriors also participated in the first FIFA Series in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We thank Coach Findlay for his service to the game in Bermuda.
The Senior Men’s team programming and commitments through the FIFA March International window will be overseen by Maurice Lowe, BFA Technical Development Director, while the Player Development Committee completes its work to appoint a new head coach.
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Nisbett Reigns Supreme with China Grand Prix Victory
IslandStats.com
Patrick Nisbett delivered a show-jumping masterclass in China, claiming a sensational victory in the 1.45M Grand Prix at the 3rd Hangzhou International Equestrian Show Jumping Competition.
Competing at the prestigious Hangzhou Equestrian Center—the world-class venue that hosted the Asian Games—Nisbett navigated a challenging weekend of elite competition to finish on the top step of the podium. His triumph in the flagship event came aboard the talented For Happiness, where the pair produced a flawless double clear round, stopping the clock in a blistering 50.77 seconds to secure the title.
The path to the podium was not without its hurdles. Earlier in the meet, Nisbett and For Happiness faced a field of 23 starters in the 1.40M Qualifier. Despite a strong pace of 75.90 seconds, a single rail down resulted in four penalty points, leaving them in sixth place. However, that performance proved to be the perfect warm-up for the Grand Prix, where the duo found their rhythm to outclass the field under the lights.
Nisbett was a constant fixture throughout the event, campaigning multiple horses across various disciplines. In the 1.20M Special Two-Phase Class, which featured 36 competitors, the Bermudian secured a respectable 17th-place finish riding Centesima SR after recording a double clear round in 39.37 seconds. He also guided Torino to 22nd place in the same class; while the pair were clear in the first phase, four penalty points in the second slowed their progress.
The competition remained fierce in the 1.30M Against the Clock Class, where 44 starters vied for the honours. Nisbett finished 26th on Centesima SR with a time of 72.45 seconds and 33rd on Torino in 69.23 seconds. While both rounds were fast enough for the top ten, costly jumping faults—four for Centesima and eight for Torino—saw them slide down the final leaderboards.
The victory in the 1.45M Grand Prix serves as a significant statement of intent for Nisbett as he continues to compete at the highest level of the international circuit. His ability to produce a double clear in the weekend’s most demanding class underscores the strong partnership he has developed with For Happiness. As the equestrian circuit moves toward the next major continental fixtures, Nisbett heads away from Hangzhou with a gold medal and a renewed sense of momentum.
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Sporting Elite Honoured at 44th Annual Awards
IslandStats.com
The Hamilton Princess was transformed into a place of celebration as Bermuda’s finest athletes gathered for the 44th Annual Government Sports Awards.
In an evening that mirrored the prestige of the island's premier sporting achievements throughout 2025, the Harbourview Ballroom played host to a tribute to the dedication and resilience of the local sporting community.
The headline honours of the night belonged to Caitlyn Bobb and Sebastian Kempe, who were named Female and Male Athlete of the Year respectively. Bobb’s dominance on the track throughout 2025 made her a standout choice for the panel, while Kempe’s continued rise through the international sailing ranks solidified his status as a world-class competitor.
Speaking after being named Bermuda’s Female Athlete of the Year, Caitlyn Bobb delivered a heartfelt, off-the-cuff speech thanking the local community for their unwavering support. She expressed her gratitude for the appreciation shown toward athletics as a whole.
Following his coronation as Bermuda’s Male Athlete of the Year, Sebastian Kempe described it as a "privilege" to sail for his country every day, expressing a deep-seated love for representing Bermuda on the water.
The future of Bermudian sport also appeared in safe hands as Robin Selley claimed the Junior Female Athlete of the Year title and Elijah Daley was recognized as the Junior Male Athlete of the Year following a breakthrough season.
Robin Selley, following her recognition as Bermuda’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year, credited her parents, family, and friends as "the best support system in the world," expressing deep gratitude for their role in her journey to the top of her sport.
Elijah Daley, speaking via a recorded video from the University of Toronto where he was competing in the national championships, delivered a powerful message of gratitude after being named Bermuda’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year. Daley began by thanking the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sport, before expressing his deep appreciation for the "dedication and discipline" shared by all the athletes in attendance.
The Achievement Awards highlighted the sheer depth of talent currently representing the island globally. In the female category, the trio of Erica Hawley, Jessica Lewis, and Yushae DeSilva-Andrade were honoured for their world-stage performances. On the male side, swimmers Jack Harvey and Jadon Roberts joined cyclist Nicholas Narraway in receiving recognition for their consistent excellence.
The junior ranks were equally impressive, with Tatiana Sousa, Charlotte Millington, and Marleigh Howes picking up female achievement honours, while golfer Oliver Betschart, sprinter Miles Outerbridge, and Camerin Adkins were celebrated for their junior male successes.
Beyond individual accolades, the evening shone a light on the collective spirit of the island. The Bermuda Davis Cup Team and the Bermuda National Netball Team were both hailed for their respective Male and Female Team Awards, marking a year of significant regional progress.
Special Awards were also presented to swimmer Thomas Cecchini, the Carifta Triathlon squad, the Bermuda National Football program, and karting ace Scott Barnes for their unique contributions to the 2025 narrative.
The backbone of the sporting community was not forgotten, as the Appreciation Awards went to Fattire Massive Cycling and Shotocup for their efforts in grassroots development.
Long-serving stalwarts Katura Horton, Junita Blee, and Ross Roberts received Special Awards for their lifelong dedication, while DeVon Bean and Leopold Kuchler were bestowed with Citation Awards for their coaching and administrative leadership.
Brianna Ray, and Kevon Fubler were presented the Ministers Awards for Cricket, while Jenay Edness-Gomez and Jonte Smith were presented the Ministers awards for Football.
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Best: The Bermudian Who
IslandStats.com
The story of Clyde Best, the Bermudian striker who became one of the first high-profile Black players in English football, is set to reach a global audience with the launch of a new documentary, The Clyde Best Story: Transforming the Beautiful Game.
In a press conference, members of the production team and Best’s former teammates gathered to announce a North American and international tour for the film, which chronicles Best's courageous journey from Somerset, Bermuda, to the top flight of English football in the late 1960s.
At just 17 years old, Clyde Best traveled over 5,500 kilometers alone to trial for West Ham United. Film narrator and actor Tony Head described the journey as one of the most remarkable in sports history.
"He goes to the airport, nobody is there to meet him. He wanders around and ends up at West Ham tube station," Head recounted. "A stranger takes him to the house of Clyde Charles, where he stayed for seven years. It is a remarkable story of determination."
The film draws comparisons to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, though Head noted a key difference: Best was a teenager with no official organizational support, facing the challenges of a different era in England entirely on his own.
Best made his debut for West Ham in 1969, becoming a beacon of hope during a period rife with racial tension. His impact on the pitch was immediate, but his influence on the generation of Black players who followed was even greater.
Former West Ham teammate Ade Coker spoke emotionally about seeing Best as an idol: "I saw a person like me that really spurred me on," Coker said. "He helped me become the player I became." Randy Horton, a fellow Bermudian and 1972 NASL MVP, recalled Best’s early dominance: "He had the skill, the trap, the shot... but above all, he was determined. You looked at Clyde’s eyes and knew he was going to make a way."
The documentary also explores Best’s influence in North America, where he played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and coached at the University of Portland.
Executive Producer Dan Egan, who was a teammate of Best’s nephew, Jerry, noted that Best’s reputation preceded him wherever he went. "We stepped out of a taxi in Rotterdam years after he played there, and a complete stranger looked up and said, 'Clyde Best?' That is the kind of impact he had worldwide."
Publicist Rob Penner confirmed that tickets are now on sale for the North American tour, with screenings scheduled for: Tampa, Florida Portland, Oregon Atlanta, Georgia Washington D.C. and Philadelphia
The film will have its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells East in two weeks, followed by a highly anticipated Bermuda premiere in just over a month.
For a man who often lets his game do the talking, Clyde Best admitted he is "over the moon" to finally see his story told. As the documentary heads to screens globally, it serves as a timely reminder of a pioneer who paved the way for the diversity seen in the modern game.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Visa Crisis Shadows Galaxy Victory as Hayward Officiates
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s FIFA-listed assistant referee Clinton Hayward found himself at the center of a logistical and political storm in California on Wednesday night, as the LA Galaxy secured a 3-0 first-leg advantage over a Mount Pleasant side decimated by visa denials.
The Round of 16 encounter at Dignity Health Sports Park was intended to be a historic debut for the Jamaican Premier League champions, but the build-up was overshadowed by a diplomatic crisis. Ten first-team players for Mount Pleasant—including seven Haitian nationals—were denied entry to the United States following recent shifts in immigration policy.
Despite arriving with a threadbare squad that included five academy call-ups, the Caribbean side produced a display of defensive discipline that frustrated the MLS giants for long periods.
The Galaxy took an early lead in the 6th minute when Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec found the net, but the expected floodgates failed to open immediately. Head coach Theodore Whitmore saw his depleted side hold the deficit to a single goal until the final moments of the match. It wasn't until the 89th minute that Pec doubled the lead, before completing his hat-trick six minutes into stoppage time to seal a 3-0 result.
Clinton Hayward, serving as the second assistant referee under match official Reon Radix, oversaw a contest where the technical disparity was heightened by the visitors' off-field handicaps. While road matches in the Concacaf region are notoriously difficult due to hostile climates, Mount Pleasant faced the unprecedented challenge of being "handicapped" by border controls.
The situation has sparked intense debate regarding the impact of travel restrictions on international sport, particularly as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup later this summer.
For Mount Pleasant, the focus now shifts to the second leg on March 19 at the National Stadium in Kingston. While they trail by three goals, they will at least be able to field their full-strength roster on home soil.
Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney expressed empathy for the visitors’ plight post-match, noting their discipline under "super difficult circumstances". For Hayward and the officiating crew, the night was a professional success, but for the Champions Cup, it remains a stark reminder of the complexities of regional competition in 2026.
