Bermuda Academy do island proud

The Bermuda National Academy are currently reflecting on a successful period for their age-group sides as the island’s young players showed the future is bright.

The Under-12, Under-13 and Under-14 teams returned home on Monday night after an excellent showing at the Naples Cup in Florida.

The Under-12s and Under-13s both won their divisions after going through the tournament undefeated, while the Under-14s reached the semi-finals.

All the teams were met at the airport by cheers from a large group of family and friends.

Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden was also in attendance, as was PLP MP Michael Weeks.

The Under-12s, coached by Jermaine Smith, opened with a 2-2 draw with Naples FC before recording a 2-1 win over the Cape Coral Cyclones, a 11-0 win over the Lee County Strikers, and a 7-0 win over the Englewood Rays.

Sergio Goater’s Under-13s got off to a flyer with a 4-0 win over The Soccer Pit Immokalee Cobras, before chalking up a 2-1 win over Weston FC, a 4-1 win over Leg AZ Caimains and then a 1-1 draw with Mako Sharks. 

For the Under-14s, they hammered The Soccer Pit Immokalee 6-1, drew 3-3 with the Mako Sharks and then lost 2-0 to Leg AZ Caimans. The team was coached by Maceo Dill.

CONCACAF pride

Meanwhile, Bermuda performed with distinction at the inaugural CONCACAF Under-15 Tournament in the Cayman Islands.

The team came fourth out of 23 teams and picked up the Fair Play Award.

Bermuda went through Group A undefeated, beating the Cayman Islands 3-0, Aruba 3-1, the Bahamas 1-0, the US Virgin Islands 8-0 and St Maarten 5-0. 

Despite this superb form, Bermuda lost to Guatemala in the semi- finals on Friday, with the game going to penalties.

They then lost the third-place play-off to El Salvador.

The Bermuda team included Yanai Smith-Davis, Ahria Simons, Jordan Lambe, Amar Lewis, Oneko Lowe, Jason Symonds, Jai-zel Smith Deshields, Jacob Greene, Justin Bell, Knory Scott, Osagi Bascome, Yani Smith-Davis, Quinn Outerbridge, Judah Chapman, Travis Boyles, Jecoa Thomas, Aaron Burgess, Vance Wall-Brown and Llineiko Millet.