Bermuda football's facing bright future
By Derek deChabert
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Bermuda's John Barry Nusum holds off Trinidad and Tobago defender Michael Edwards during the first half of the World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Centre on Sunday, while (below) the team line-up before the start of the game.
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Photo Akil Simmons
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With World Cup hopes dashed, Bermuda must now focus on the future and what is next for the Island's national team.
The best of Bermuda's past players and executives, along with thousands of fans were on hand on Sunday night to witness the spectacle that is World Cup Qualifying at the National Sports Centre (NSC).
Fans descended upon the NSC to cheer on their beloved national team in an atmosphere never seen before on the Island's shores, waving the country's flags and even wearing the Bermuda jerseys to show their loyalty.
The loss to the much-fancied opponents wasn't a bad sign of what Bermuda is capable of. It was the manner in which the defeat occurred.
Controversial to say the least, some fans felt the team could have been more positive in their approach to the game and put Bermuda's natural style of play on display for all to see.
"The atmosphere in the arena was unbelievable", said former Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Donald Dane. "The fans gave the side a wonderful reception.
"I was present at the match in Trinidad, and we did what was required there.
"At times we were playing too defensive instead of playing our game.
"Whenever we had more then one player supporting our lone striker we caused them all sorts of problems.
"But this happened very seldom.
"The goals they scored weren't good goals, but they were mistakes on our part.
"We could have beaten them if we would have played attacking football and moved our defense up a bit more.
"Going forward now we have to be upbeat and positive as we have come a long way in the last few months."
With the excitement and fanfare of the World Cup experience now gone, the question Bermudians are sure to ask is what is next for Bermuda football.
"The topic of local football now should be when is the next fixture for the team to keep them active and develop themselves even further", Dane continued.
"The more games the national team get exposed to, the better they will become in the end, and that is what we all should be striving."
"Going forward the future looks to be very positive"
Former Bermuda and West Ham star Clyde Best, echoed Dane's comments, believeing that as the home side, Bermuda should have taken the game to their visitors.
"It is a funny game. We didn't take the game to them like we should have", said Best.
"We are at home and you shouldn't allow teams to come here and do what they did.
"They played slow to lure us into what they wanted us to do. We are the home side and should keep the tempo at a high pace. We can't drop off of teams and allow them to play football.
"I thought the linesman may have made a mistake, but you never substitute when you are taking a free kick.
"This Trinidad team isn't as good as I expected them to be. They knocked the ball around because we allowed them to.
"If we would have applied pressure to them it would have been different.
"We did what we had to do and got the result there. When you come home you have to defend what is yours and attack.
"You can not allow them have one second to be comfortable.
"We have the Digicel to look forward and should try to put our best foot forward."
Although the defeat left Bermuda thinking about what might have been, there were many who applauded the effort and the atmosphere at the venue.
"The atmosphere was electric, this is all about pride", said ISL commissioner David Bascome. "The spirit of the Island was awesome. I can't remember when the stadium was this full.
"The players did very well even though it was a tall order they were asked to do.
"We have many things for Bermuda football, the ISL and the Hogges for instance. Bermudians should be proud and expect better next time.
"We are proud people who love our country and this was a perfect time to show everyone that we support our team."
In past years games have been few and far between for the national team, which would lead one to assume that the national set-up will go back to old ways, playing only a handful of games a year.
Only in recent times, especially in the build up for the World Cup Qualifiers, has the side taken the field as many times as they should be.
"It is about going forward and what we do now", said Bermuda Hogges' coach Kyle Lightbourne. "It is important for us to build on this.
"The last qualifying run we had back in the nineties was great, but everything after that broke down.
"We can't stand still now, we have worked too hard to let it all go. It should start to become an everyday thing.
"We have come so far, to let it go now would be a waste."
"In order for us to bridge the gap this must be an everyday thing, who are playing next. That mentality will carry us a long way.
"We must be looking for our next opponent and playing international fixtures, not hoping and praying that we can get games on short notices."
