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Thursday, February 12, 2026
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Denkins: ‘Proud but Disappointed’ as Bermuda Exit Qualifiers
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Bermuda Head Coach Aaron Denkins has praised the professionalism of his Under-17 squad despite a frustrating exit from the CONCACAF Men’s World Cup Qualifiers in Honduras.
Bermuda’s campaign came to an end in San Pedro Sula following two gritty performances that ultimately lacked a clinical edge in the final third. Bermuda finished their Group H schedule without finding the net, conceding just three goals across 180 minutes of football against Guyana and the host nation.
Speaking to islandstats.com following the conclusion of the tournament, Denkins admitted to a mixture of emotions after seeing his side fall short of their qualification goals.
“I am proud but disappointed also,” Denkins said. “The team gave all they had in both matches. The players were really good and professional all week. The defense worked hard to stay in matches, the only challenge was rewarding ourselves by scoring.”
Bermuda’s defensive resilience was a hallmark of their play. After a narrow 1–0 defeat to Guyana in their opener—a match where they dominated 63% of the ball—the team stood firm against Honduras until a floodlight-delayed encounter eventually saw the hosts pull away for a 2–0 victory.
Despite the tactical discipline shown throughout the week, Denkins was candid about the reality of competing at the highest level of regional youth football.
“Ultimately, in international football goals win games and lack of goals get you sent home,” he noted, highlighting the crucial area for development as these players transition into the Under-19 and senior ranks.
While the results mark a somber end to the qualifying journey, the emergence of talents like Na'im Zuill and Z'Ani Jennings provides a foundation for the Bermuda Football Association to build upon in the next cycle.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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Heartbreak in San Pedro Sula as Bermuda Bow Out
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 Honduras 2 Bermuda 0
Bermuda’s dreams of reaching the FIFA Under-17 World Cup came to a valiant but disappointing end at the Estadio Francisco Morazán as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Group H hosts Honduras.
Bermuda arrived in San Pedro Sula facing a daunting mathematical equation, needing a victory by at least two clear goals to advance on goal difference. In contrast, the hosts knew that a win or a draw would be enough to secure their direct passage to the world stage.
Honduras Starting Line-up: - Juan Quesada, Nelson Castillo, Jefferson Guiti, Denzel Arzu (Josue Ortega 68th), Kevin Pérez, Yeiron Arzú, Leandro Padilla, Jonathan Claros (Heiner Reyes 76th), Mike Arana (Charly Chávez 53rd), Milton Moya (Jeremy Rodriguez 68th), Eduardo Romero (Angel Maradiaga 76th) - Substitutes: - Miguel Castillo, Darwin Cruz, Nelson Palomo, Fabián Ramos, Raúl Villatoro - Bermuda Starting Line-up: - Nuri Latham, Milliunh Hill (Tyler Steede 36th), Amir Brangman, Amir Weller, Kayuri Tucker (Joshua Smith 90th), Deacon Wade, Roman Wilkinson, Na'im Zuill, Z'Ani Jennings (Mateus Amara 89th), Shiia Davis (Kaiyuri Albuoy 46th), Jèon Wolfe (Zydon Lightbourne 46th) - Substitutes: - Ethan Adderley, Rylan Desilva, Norico Furbert, Curtis Jackson, Shiloh Waite
The high-stakes encounter was delayed by forty-five minutes before kick-off due to a floodlight failure at the historic stadium, but once play commenced, the atmospheric pressure was palpable.
Honduras established their dominance early, controlling 61.6% of the ball in the first half. While Bermuda’s Na'im Zuill saw an ambitious right-footed effort from distance blocked in the 15th minute, the hosts eventually broke the deadlock. In the 35th minute, Mike Arana produced a moment of individual brilliance, firing a left-footed strike into the back of the net from a challenging angle to give Honduras a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Bermuda head coach Aaron Denkins rang the changes at half-time, introducing Zydon Lightbourne and Kaiyuri Albuoy to inject fresh impetus into the attack. The tactical shift saw Bermuda's possession improve to 40.1% overall, but clear-cut chances remained elusive against a disciplined Honduran backline.
Substitute Tyler Steede attempted to spark a comeback in the 56th minute with a speculative long-range effort that was blocked, before Z'Ani Jennings forced a fine save from Honduran keeper Juan Quesada in the 71st minute. It proved to be Bermuda’s only shot on target during a grueling 90 minutes.
As Bermuda pushed forward in search of an equaliser, the hosts exploited the space behind. The result was put beyond doubt ten minutes from time when substitute Jeremy Rodriguez rose highest to power a header into the top right corner, doubling the lead and effectively ending the contest.
Honduras finished the match with 19 total shots compared to Bermuda's four, reflecting their superior clinical edge in the final third. For Bermuda, the defeat marks a somber end to the campaign; despite their defensive resilience, the team failed to find the net in 180 minutes of football, conceding three goals across the qualifying group.
Honduras now moves forward to represent the region on the global stage, while Bermuda's youngsters return home to focus on the next cycle of international development.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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Hibs Secure Stunning Comeback Against Ten-Man Rangers
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Bermudian international Logan Jimenez and his Hibernian Under-19 teammates staged a dramatic second-half turnaround to secure a 3-1 victory over ten-man Glasgow Rangers in the CAS Elite League Cup group stage.
The match, which appeared to be swinging in the Rangers' favour despite an early dismissal, was ultimately decided by Hibs' clinical efficiency in the final third.
The contest took a decisive turn inside the first half-hour when Rangers’ Calum Adamson was shown a straight red card, leaving the visitors to play over 60 minutes with a numerical disadvantage.
Despite the setback, Rangers initially defied the odds. They took the lead before the interval when Oliver Hynd expertly touched home a pinpoint delivery from Alexander Smith, rewarding the Glasgow side’s resilience.
However, the second half belonged entirely to the hosts. With Logan Jimenez providing a constant threat in the attacking third, Hibs began to dismantle the tiring Rangers backline.
The pressure finally told when Dean Cleland levelled the scoring, before adding a second to put Hibs in the driving seat. The three points were eventually wrapped up by a late strike from Cole Shankland, completing a professional comeback for the Edinburgh side.
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Monday, February 09, 2026
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Barry & Dereham Town Under 15s Run Riot at Aldiss Park
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Bermuda Under 17 International Antoinette Barry and her Dereham Town Under 15 Magpie Girls teammates delivered a clinical masterclass, dismantling the Fakenham Town Lionesses in a one-sided affair at Aldiss Park.
The Magpies were in imperious form from the first whistle, securing an emphatic 11-0 victory that showcased the depth of talent within the squad.
The scoreline reflected a performance built on fluidity and defensive solidity. The hosts demonstrated "fantastic play from back to front," combining structured build-up with a series of "great finishes". It was a "real team effort" that left the coaching staff "very proud of the group".
The goals were shared across the pitch, highlighting the Magpies' multifaceted threat:
Two hat-tricks were recorded as the attackers capitalized on a weary Lionesses defense.
Five different players found the back of the net throughout the ninety minutes.
Notably, the defenders also joined the scoring spree, underlining the total-football approach adopted by the Dereham side.
While the victory at Aldiss Park provides a significant morale boost, the focus for Barry and her teammates now shifts to one of the biggest fixtures of their season.
The Magpies are set to compete in the Under 16 County Cup Semi-Final in their next outing. With a place in the final at stake, the squad will be looking to carry this momentum and clinical edge into the cup competition as they pursue regional silverware.
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Sunday, February 08, 2026
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Bermuda’s Officials in the Thick of the Action in Guatemala
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The 2026 Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers continued in clinical fashion, with Group C delivering a goal-fest at the Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala City. While the attackers grabbed the headlines, two of Bermuda’s top FIFA officials were right in the heart of the officiating teams managing the high-stakes encounters.
In the day’s opening fixture, Haiti signaled their intent with a commanding 4-0 victory over Antigua and Barbuda. The Haitian side showed superior technical prowess and fitness, breaking down a resilient, if eventually overmatched, Antiguan defense.
Bermudian Referee Assistant Clinton Hayward was on the line for this encounter, playing a crucial role in managing the pace of the game and ensuring the integrity of Haiti’s fluid attacking transitions. His expertise was called upon as Haiti repeatedly breached the final third, leaving no room for error in offside calls.
The evening session belonged to the hosts. Guatemala delighted the home crowd with a ruthless 7-0 demolition of Grenada, a result that catapulted them to the top of Group C on goal difference.
The match was a showcase of clinical finishing, though it required firm management from the sidelines. Bermuda’s Amaury Majors served as the Fourth Official for this clash. In a game defined by lopsided scoring and high emotions from the traveling Grenadian side, Majors was tasked with maintaining order in the technical areas and overseeing the frequent substitutions as Guatemala rotated their squad in the second half.
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