Coach Blanchette Hails Bermuda U14 Display
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Vashun Blanchette, the Bermuda Under-14 boys’ football team coach, believes his young players have gained invaluable experience from their remarkable run at the Caribbean Football Union Under-14 Challenge Series in Trinidad and Tobago.
Blanchette’s team showcased impressive form throughout the tournament, advancing to the semi-finals after winning all four of their group matches.
In the semi-finals, Bermuda delivered a commanding performance, defeating Anguilla 6-0 to secure their place in the Tier II final against Barbados.
The final, held yesterday [August 25] at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, was a tightly contested match.
Photo courtesy of the BFA
Despite several chances from both sides, neither team managed to score during regulation time, sending the game into a penalty shootout.
Ultimately, Barbados narrowly edged out Bermuda 4-3, a result that left Blanchette and his players with mixed emotions.
“The final is a bit disappointing,” Blanchette said. “The boys are going to be a bit disappointed.
“With time, once we’re able to reflect, we’ll come to the conclusion that we’ve had a good tournament.”
Blanchette praised his team’s performance, highlighting their ability to dominate games and create scoring opportunities.
“It was really fine margins,” he said. “I thought we created enough chances to win but couldn’t get the ball across the line.
Despite the heartbreak in the final, Bermuda’s tournament was filled with individual accolades and standout displays.
“We leave here with the Golden Boot [Jeon Wolfe], the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets [Xavier Thomas-Bassett] and the player of the tournament [Carter Thomas], so I think that speaks to how well we’ve done,” Blanchette said.
“We’ve scored the most goals [26] and conceded the least [1]; it just wasn’t to be today.
“Football can be very harsh, but it’s a talented bunch and we’ll continue to work. We’ll put our heads down and prepare for next year’s competition.”
Reflecting on the future, Blanchette is confident his team will grow from their experience.
“They’ll learn from this and take a lot from it,” he added. “They’re an ambitious group. This tournament will serve them well as they progress and get older.”
Video courtesy of the CFU
They are Champions and I hope after the disappointment they can each value how hard they fought to be proud of themselves.
Great job to coach and your supporting staff members. You have shown them how far dedication and team work will go
Go Bermuda