Roberts Outlines Strategic Growth for Bermuda Women
IslandStats.com
Bermuda Women’s National Team interim head coach Karl Roberts has emphasized that player development and continuous tactical progression remain his primary objectives as the squad completes final preparations for an international friendly double-header against Belize.
Stepping temporarily into the hot seat to manage administrative and technical structures for the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), Roberts faces a swift turnaround to settle a dynamic roster featuring an influx of fresh, emerging local talent.
A central pillar of the upcoming matches involves assessing whether the island's younger prospects can successfully withstand the physical and mental demands of senior international football.
The squad represents a complex logistical puzzle, with international selections gradually filtering into camp from overseas academic institutions, elite foreign clubs, and the domestic senior league.
"It's a matter of bringing in a few new players and giving some young players an opportunity to experience the atmosphere," Roberts explained to islandstats.com. "We want to see where a couple of our young players fit and if they can hold their own at the senior level. Being the interim coach, I just wanted to make this process for the BFA a little bit smoother."
Transitioning to a new leadership model can frequently disrupt a locker room's rhythm, but Roberts believes his long-standing tenure alongside former manager Naquita "Coach Keta" Robinson has fostered immediate trust and continuity among the senior core.
The team enters the international window riding a wave of positive momentum following a dramatic, character-building performance in their previous competitive outing, where they overcame a daunting 3-0 deficit to register a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory.
Roberts has also fortified his immediate technical circle to ensure high-performance continuity, confirming that experienced coaches Calvin Dill and Farid El Karfa have joined the senior national staff for the duration of the international window.
Rather than fixating on rigid numerical results or scorelines, the coaching staff's ultimate metric of success remains incremental structural improvement.
"We've discussed it as a group," Roberts concluded. "It’s just a matter of growing from that last game we played. There isn't really anything we're looking to achieve in the sense of 'we want to do this or that,' but in a nutshell, we want to be better and better after each match and show a better account of ourselves."
Monday, June 01, 2026
Goater Turns Down Bermuda Head Coaching Job
IslandStats.com
After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw from the process and decline the position of Head Coach of the Bermuda Men's National Team.
I entered this process with genuine enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility. Bermuda football has played a significant role in my life, and I approached this opportunity with the same commitment and professionalism that have guided me throughout my playing and coaching career.
I developed and presented a comprehensive vision for the future of the national programme, including a long-term strategy for player development, performance, culture and international competitiveness. I was encouraged by the discussions that took place and grateful for the opportunity to share my ideas for Bermuda football.
Following extensive discussions, I ultimately concluded that the structure and resources available were not sufficiently aligned with the objectives and ambitions that had been outlined throughout the process. For that reason, I felt it would not be appropriate to accept responsibility for delivering outcomes without the platform necessary to give those objectives the strongest possible chance of success.
This decision should not be interpreted as a lack of belief in Bermuda football or a lack of desire to serve my country. Quite the opposite. My belief in the potential of Bermudian players, coaches and young people remains as strong as ever.
Football has given me opportunities to learn from outstanding people and organisations around the world. My commitment remains the same as it has always been; to help build high-performance environments, develop players, support staff and contribute positively wherever I have the privilege to work.
My love for Bermuda and my passion for the game remains unchanged.
Thank you to everyone who offered support and encouragement throughout this process.
Shaun Goater MBE
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Blockbuster Team Announced for Belize Home Series
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) has officially announced a powerhouse Senior Women’s National Team squad ahead of their highly anticipated international double-header against the Belize Women's National Team.
Headlining the selection is winger Kenni Thompson, who recently made global headlines by announcing her emotional retirement from professional football in Europe to prioritize her personal peace. Her inclusion on home soil provides an immense psychological and tactical boost to the squad.
Joining her in a lethal attacking line is Keunna Dill, the dynamic forward who famously operating as a four-goal hero in her last international outing, and Jahni Simmons, fresh off an unstoppable, golden-boot winning campaign as the top goalscorer for the United Kingdom's Future Pro Female Academy.
The upcoming home fixture carries massive regional stakes, with the historical series between the two nation selections currently deadlocked at one win apiece.
The Bermuda Women’s National team traveled to Belmopan previously to split a fierce match series, and the technical staff will now look to exploit home turf advantage to secure two definitive victories.
Operating under a reciprocal agreement with the Football Federation of Belize, the block of matches will test the structural growth and tactical endurance of the domestic side against a physical Central American opponent.
Bermuda vs Belize Match Details: • Venue: Flora Duffy South Field (National Sports Centre) • Match 1: Thursday, June 4th (7:00 PM) • Match 2: Sunday, June 7th (7:00 PM)
With both international friendly showcases scheduled for 7pm kick-offs under the floodlights of the Flora Duffy South Field, the BFA has urged local fans to pack the grandstands in droves.
The high-stakes series provides a perfect platform for senior standard-bearers and emerging youth prospects to claim vital international mileage on the global pathway. Tickets have officially been released to the public, setting the stage for a dramatic week of elite women's football in Devonshire.
Magnificent Lewis Rewrites History with Flawless Campaign
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s Jessica Lewis has cemented her legacy as one of the most remarkable forces in modern wheelchair racing, concluding a truly historic European tour with an astonishing record of seven personal bests from seven consecutive races.
Competing across a grueling, high-stakes fortnight in Switzerland that included the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial and the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, the four-time Paralympian put on an absolute masterclass in explosive power and tactical consistency.
The flawless clean sweep of career-best times saw Lewis continually lower her own benchmarks, highlighted by a breath-taking 100m triumph where she stopped the clock at a staggering 15.22 seconds—shatting her own Para Pan American record and finishing a mere two-hundredths of a second outside the global world record.
Reflecting on what is undoubtedly the most prolific stretch of her decorated international career, the Bermudian sprinting star was quick to credit the tight-knit team operating behind the scenes.
Following recent transitions in her elite training environment and technical equipment setups, Lewis expressed immense pride in her physical breakthrough on the track while looking ahead to the rest of the seasonal calendar.
"I am so proud of myself and grateful for the amazing coaches, support team, teammates, and sponsor Arch Capital Group," Lewis stated. "I have surrounded myself with people who have kept believing in my potential. More to come."
The unprecedented level of consistency displayed by Lewis has sent a definitive warning shot through the T53 division ahead of upcoming major international championships.
To maintain peak physical output over seven individual flights—navigating everything from damp track conditions to heavy head-to-head pressure against local world-beaters like Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner—underscores a massive leap forward in her athletic trajectory.
Backed by the continued corporate sponsorship of local insurance giants Arch Capital Group Ltd., Lewis’s record-shattering Swiss campaign suggests that the highly coveted T53 world record of 15.20 seconds is no longer a distant target, but a milestone firmly within her current grasp.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Lewis Inches from World Record After Dramatic Photo-Finish
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s Jessica Lewis has produced one of the most remarkable performances in wheelchair racing history, storming to victory in the T53 Women’s 100m at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland.
In a race that will be talked about for years to come, Lewis secured the Gold Medal in a breath-taking photo finish, edging out local Swiss superstar Catherine Debrunner by a microscopic two-thousandths of a second.
The timesheets reflected the sheer intensity of the battle, with Lewis clocked at a blistering 15.22.218 seconds, just clear of Debrunner's 15.22.220. Turkey’s Hamide Dogangun completed the podium positions well back in third place, crossing the line in 15.90 seconds.
The staggering time completely destroys Lewis’s previous Para Pan American record, cementing her status as an absolute force on the global stage.
Having recently transitioned her training base to Canada, the four-time Paralympian has found an entirely new gear this season, displaying an explosive start and unparalleled top-end speed down the Swiss straightaway.
Her tactical execution under immense pressure from the home favorite showcased the veteran composure that has made her Bermuda's most decorated para-athlete.
Beyond the immediate glory of a Grand Prix gold medal, Lewis’s blistering time has sent shockwaves through the international track and field community.
By stopping the clock at 15.22 seconds, she came agonizingly close to breaking the long-standing T53 World Record, which stands at an elite 15.20 seconds.
With her form peaking beautifully on the European circuit, the athletic world will be watching closely as Lewis continues her season, with the historic global mark now firmly within her sights.
