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 a somber 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.
Following the tournament’s conclusion, Denkins admitted to a mixture of pride and disappointment 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 and outshot their opponents 20 to 9—the team stood firm against Honduras. However, a floodlight-delayed encounter eventually saw the hosts pull away for a 2–0 victory, officially ending Bermuda’s run.
Despite the tactical discipline shown throughout the week, Denkins was candid about the harsh realities 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. He highlighted this as a crucial area for development as these players transition into the Under-19 and senior ranks.
While the results mark a disappointing 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.
