Naquita Robinson On Coaching Legacy
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Naquita Robinson says the “chapter is closed, but not the door” after stepping down as head coach of the Bermuda women’s national team following over a dozen years in charge.
Her departure came on a high, with Bermuda securing a 5-3 home win over Grenada in their final group C match of the Concacaf W Championship qualifiers at the weekend.
Yet, for Robinson, the campaign was only a small part of a much bigger journey defined by player development, resilience and long-term progress.
“When I originally took the job, I gave myself a seven-year timeframe,” Robinson told Bernews.
“However, I decided to stay on when the Concacaf W Championship qualifying format was introduced.”
Her tenure was marked by success on the international stage, most notably three gold medals at the International Island Games — in Bermuda in 2013, Guernsey in 2023 and Orkney last summer.
Under her stewardship, the team also narrowly missed out on progression to the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup play-offs after a 2-0 defeat away to the Dominican Republic in 2023, a result she still reflects on.
“We came too close in that match,” she said. “I truly believe we would have been successful had we not been missing half the team because of the flu.”
More importantly, she takes pride in what her players achieved beyond the pitch.
“My highlights have been the achievements of my players — going on to have professional careers, receiving full college scholarships, and staying away from the negativity in Bermuda,” she said.
Her coaching philosophy centred on empowering players, a mindset she believes underpinned her approach throughout her time in charge.
“I always tell the players, ‘I work for you; you don’t work for me,’” she said. “Understanding that concept is what has sustained me throughout all these years as a coach.”
Robinson was quick to credit her squad for their commitment, particularly during challenging moments.
“The players have worked hard throughout the campaign and given everything in every match — they never gave up,” she said.
“Whenever you win anything, it feels great, but you have to give credit to the players on the field.”
Despite stepping down, Robinson has no intention of walking away from the game entirely and is open to supporting the transition to a new era.
“I’m not completely walking away,” she said. “I want to make the job a lot easier for the next set of coaches who come into the national programme.
“I’ll be willing to stay on as interim until they find a replacement. If I have to be that female coach when we travel, as per Fifa rules, I’ll be willing to do that.
“It’s something that has to be earned. You can’t just send anyone to be a female assistant coach. I’d need to know the Association are actively looking for a replacement, though!”
Robinson believes Bermuda must improve structurally if they are to take the next step on the international stage.
“It’s as far as I can take them, because there are things we need to do better as a country — getting more players off the island and into professional academies, and ensuring those players commit to playing for Bermuda,” she said.
“However, I’ve told the players I truly believe this is not as far as they can go.”
For now, Robinson plans to take a step back, but not for long.
“I’m not done — I’ll take a little rest,” she added.
Thank you, Naquita Robinson.