Bermuda go back to work after Guyana glory

Colin Thompson

Published May 29, 2018 at 8:00 am (Updated May 28, 2018 at 11:06 pm)

In the pink: the Bermuda women’s football team arrive at LF Wade International Airport last night after their undefeated success in Guyana (Photograph by Ben Saunders)

The victorious Bermuda women’s football team made a triumphant return home from the Concacaf Women’s Championship qualifying tournament in Guyana last night.

The Lady Gombey Warriors secured their spot in the final round of the tournament after topping their group in Guyana, where they remained unbeaten in three round-robin matches.

They drew 2-2 against Guyana in the opener before beating Barbados 3-2 and Surinam 1-0 to finish two points ahead of the host country in the four-team standings.

“We took the hard road but we got there so at the end of the day we are excited,” Naquita Robinson, the Bermuda coach, told The Royal Gazette. “I’m happy with the results but not our performances. In the girls’ defence, we had a very short preparation window.”

Akeyla Furbert, the winger, scored the first-half winner against Surinam in Bermuda’s final group match at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility in Leonora on Sunday.

Still, Bermuda’s fate remained out of their hands and they were forced to sweat it out while Guyana, who had a far superior goal difference, played their final match against Barbados.

But anxiety in the Bermuda camp turned to celebration after Guyana and Barbados played to a goalless draw.

“It was tense, of course, for the 90 minutes that Guyana and Barbados were playing, but the moment we got the final result we celebrated,” Robinson said.

The Bermuda contingent received the exciting news at their hotel.

“The lights went out in the stadium before the match so we left and actually sat as a team around the hotel pool and just waited for the final result,” Robinson said. “Some players were following it online but most of us didn’t want updates and just wanted the final result.

“It was really, really exciting and the girls jumped into the swimming pool when we got the final result.

“Akeyla’s goal proved to be very vital as we needed three points.”

The final round of the Concacaf Women’s Championship, from August 25 to September 2, will pit Bermuda in a group with Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua and Barbuda. The host nation is yet to be decided.

Robinson is confident that her players will be equal to the task.

“We will be very competitive and not out of our league as long as the players put in the fitness,” she said. “We go right back to training on Wednesday and have two months to prepare.”

Robinson’s squad could potentially undergo changes for the final round of the Concacaf Women’s Championship.

“Hopefully Aaliyah Nolan and Leah Smith become available,” Robinson said. “Also Trinae Edwards will definitely be added as she only missed out on this round because of exams.”

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