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Thursday, January 08, 2026
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Khano Smith Makes First Move of 2026 Offseason
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Rhode Island FC head coach and general manager Khano Smith has signalled his intent for the 2026 USL Championship season, securing the signature of former Major League Soccer forward Leo Afonso.
The 24-year-old Brazilian-born attacker joins the "Amber and Blue" as a free agent following a stint with Atlanta United. Afonso, who brings experience from the highest levels of the North American game, is the first major piece of Smith’s offseason recruitment drive as the club looks to build on its status as a rising power in the Eastern Conference.
Afonso’s arrival in Pawtucket comes after two seasons spent in high-pressure MLS environments. He famously began his professional career with Inter Miami, where he shared a scoresheet with Lionel Messi during a 2-2 draw against Colorado Rapids in early 2024.
The forward's journey from São Paulo to the Ocean State has been one of steady progression, moving through the academies of Boca United and the Philadelphia Union before a standout four-year collegiate career with the University of Virginia Cavaliers.
"Leo is an exciting attacking player with an eye for goal who has been in very high-level environments the past two seasons," said Smith, the former Bermuda international who was recently handed a multi-year contract extension. "His experience at a young age will be invaluable as we build towards having another successful season in 2026."
With the addition of Afonso, Rhode Island FC now has 20 players under contract for the upcoming campaign. Smith has been clinical in his roster management this winter, exercising options on key veterans like goalkeeper Koke Vegas and midfielder Amos Shapiro-Thompson while moving on from others to create space for fresh talent.
Afonso’s versatility—capable of playing as a central striker or on the wing—provides Smith with a dynamic tool in an attacking unit that already features JJ Williams and Albert Dikwa. As the 2026 season approaches, the focus remains clear: turning last year's playoff consistency into silverware.
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Wednesday, January 07, 2026
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BFA Unveils Weekend Schedule & Venues
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The Bermuda Football Association has released a high-stakes schedule for this weekend's matches, as the title races in both divisions reach a boiling point. Domestic action returns to the forefront with a series of crucial fixtures that could reshape the standings at both ends of the table.
The weekend kicks off with a massive double-header at Bernard Park on Friday night. In the First Division opener, sixth-placed Wolves face a daunting task against league leaders Somerset Trojans, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 pm.
That match will be immediately followed at 9:00 pm by a Premier Division heavyweight clash between North Village Rams and Devonshire Cougars. Both sides currently sit level on 16 points, making this a pivotal encounter in the battle for fourth place.
Sunday's First Division slate begins at 12:30 pm with two intriguing matches. Second-placed Robin Hood, who currently share the summit on 15 points, will take on seventh-placed Vasco at the PHC Stadium. Simultaneously, third-placed Somerset Eagles will travel to White Hill Field to face fifth-placed St. David's in a mid-table duel.
The Premier Division takes over at 3:00 pm on Sunday with a full schedule of matches. The pick of the afternoon sees league leaders Dandy Town Hornets—who hold a narrow one-point lead at the top—defend their position against third-placed Devonshire Colts at White Hill Field. Elsewhere, tenth-placed Boulevard Blazers continue their fight for survival against eighth-placed St. George's Colts at the Devonshire Recreation Club.
In other Premier Division action, seventh-placed Paget Lions will meet ninth-placed Young Men Social Club at Wellington Oval in a vital clash for the lower-tier standings. Finally, second-placed PHC Zebras will look to maintain their title surge as they host sixth-placed X-Road's at the PHC Stadium, knowing that any slip-up from Dandy Town could see them claim the top spot.
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Tuesday, January 06, 2026
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Frozen Pitches Force Further Postponements in UK
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A wave of Arctic weather sweeping across the United Kingdom has once again played havoc with the football schedule, forcing another round of postponements for several Bermudian internationals playing in the English lower leagues.
The persistent cold snap, which has seen temperatures plunge well below freezing over the weekend and into the new week, left referees with little choice but to call off matches due to unplayable, frozen surfaces. Pitch inspections carried out early on Tuesday morning confirmed that many grounds in the National League and Isthmian tiers remained unsafe for play, despite the widespread use of frost covers.
Among those affected is Kane Crichlow, whose Chelmsford City fixture was one of many to fall victim to the icy conditions. Similar frustrations were felt by Justin Donawa, Keziah Martin and their Hereford FC teammates, as the "Big Freeze" continues to stall the momentum of the winter campaign.
The decision to postpone matches is rarely taken lightly, but with player safety the primary concern and little sign of a significant thaw in the immediate forecast, league officials have prioritised the welfare of athletes and travelling supporters.
While in League One—where Nahki Wells continues his campaign with Luton Town—and the Championship largely benefit from undersoil heating, the financial constraints of the lower tiers mean many clubs are at the mercy of the elements.
Rearranged dates for the affected fixtures are expected to be announced in due course as clubs scramble to fit the missed games into an already congested spring schedule. For now, Bermuda’s overseas professionals remain in a holding pattern, trading the match-day grass for the indoor gym until the UK's winter grip finally loosens.
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Monday, January 05, 2026
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Three-Horse Race in Premier Division Reaching Boiling Point
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The race for the Premier Division title remains on a knife-edge as the second half of the campaign gathers momentum, with just a single point separating the top three sides.
Dandy Town Hornets currently hold the narrowest of leads at the summit, sitting on 22 points after a clinical start to the New Year. However, the chasing pack is breathing down their necks, with both PHC Zebras and Devonshire Colts locked together on 21 points, ensuring that any slip-up from the leaders will be immediately punished.
The battle for the Premier Division Golden Boot is proving to be equally competitive. Senoj Mitchell of Devonshire Colts, who has led the charts for much of the winter, has been joined at the top by PHC’s Enrique Russell. Both marksmen have now netted nine goals each, establishing themselves as the league's most clinical finishers.
Behind the leading duo, a cluster of high-profile names are within striking distance. Chae Brangman of Devonshire Cougars sits on eight goals, while X-Road's veteran Donovan Thompson has found the net seven times. David Jones of Dandy Town and North Village’s Jonte Smith remain firmly in the hunt with six goals apiece, promising a high-scoring run-in to the end of the season.
The First Division is witnessing a dramatic "dead heat" at the summit, where Somerset Trojans and Robin Hood cannot be separated. Both clubs share the top spot with 15 points, setting the stage for a straight shootout for the title and promotion.
A significant 11-point gap has opened up between the leaders and the rest of the field. A logjam of four teams—Somerset Eagles, Southampton Rangers, St. David's, and Wolves—are all tied on seven points in a mid-table scramble. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Vasco’s difficult campaign continues as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table, still searching for their first point of the season.
While the First Division team standings are level, the individual scoring race has become a one-man show. Veteran striker Keishen Bean of Robin Hood has blown the competition away, storming to a blistering 12 goals so far this term.
The gulf between Bean and his rivals is staggering. Jadan Ratteray Smith of the Somerset Trojans occupies second place with four goals, while Dominique Hill of the Southampton Rangers follows in third with three. With Bean scoring at a rate nearly triple his nearest competitor, the Golden Boot appears destined for the Farley Way talisman.
PREMIER DIVISION
22 Dandy Town Hornets
21 PHC Zebras
21 Devonshire Colts
16 North Village Rams
16 Devonshire Cougars
13 X-Road's
09 Paget Lions
06 St. George's Colts
04 Young Men Social Club
02 Boulevard Blazers
PREMIER LEADING GOALSCORERS
9 Senoj Mitchell - Devonshire Colts
9 Enrique Russell - PHC Zebras
8 Chae Brangman - Devonshire Cougars
7 Donovan Thompson - X-Road's
6 David Jones - Dandy Town Hornets
6 Jonte Smith - North Village Rams
5 Elisha Darrell - Devonshire Colts
5 Zeiko Lewis - Young Men Social Club
5 Paul Simons - X-Road's
5 Chermal Henry - Devonshire Colts
FIRST DIVISION
15 Somerset Trojans
15 Robin Hood
07 Somerset Eagles
07 Southampton Rangers
07 St. David's
07 Wolves
00 Vasco
LEADING GOALSCORERS
12 Keishen Bean - Robin Hood
04 Jadan Ratteray Smith - Somerset Trojans
03 Dominique Hill - Southampton Rangers
02 Lucas Da Silva Marcel - Vasco
02 Zico Saltus Seymour - Somerset Eagles
02 Nathan Rego - Somerset Eagles
02 Samuel Corollo - Robin Hood
02 Keishon Wilson - St. David's
02 Jahni Bean - Southampton Rangers
02 Khymani McNeil - Somerset Trojans
02 Kenyi Mills - Somerset Trojans
02 Leo Burgess - Somerset Trojans
Click Here to see the Full 2025/2026 Bermuda Football Association Premier & First Division Standings & Goalscorers
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Sunday, January 04, 2026
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Title Race Tightens as Premier Division Front-Runners Win
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 Enrique Russell IslandStats.com
On a high-stakes Sunday that saw the island's elite talent on full display, the battle at both ends of the table intensified as the season's second half gathers pace.
Devonshire Colts 2 North Village Rams 1
In the standout fixture of the round, third-placed Devonshire Colts completed a league double over the defending champions North Village Rams with a resilient 2-1 victory.
The Rams started brightly and took the lead in the ninth minute when Jalen Harvey pounced on a loose ball following a corner to score from close range. However, the lead lasted just ten minutes before Chemari Henry showed remarkable composure to slot home an equalizer for the Colts.
Henry proved to be the hero of the afternoon, striking again in the 59th minute to put the home side ahead. Despite a late North Village press, the Colts held firm to move to 19 points—just one shy of the summit.
St. George’s Colts 1 PHC Zebras 2
At Wellington Oval, PHC Zebras matched the Colts' result with a hard-fought 2-1 win over St. George’s Colts. The visitors took an early lead in the 13th minute through a trademark Enrique Russell free-kick that bypassed the wall and found the net.
St. George’s refused to go quietly and drew level before the interval through Blaiz Hall, setting up a tense second half. It was Russell who eventually settled the contest, popping up in the 74th minute to score his second of the game and his fourth of the season, ensuring the Zebras keep pace with the leaders.
X-Road’s 0 Paget Lions 1
The mid-table clash between X-Road’s Warriors and Paget Lions looked destined for a stalemate until a dramatic final five minutes in St. David’s.
After a scoreless 87 minutes, the Lions were awarded a penalty, which Diaje Hart clinically dispatched to secure a 1-0 win. The result provides much-needed breathing room for Paget as they look to climb away from the relegation conversation.
Devonshire Cougars 2 Boulevard Blazers 0
At the Devonshire Recreation Club, Devonshire Cougars maintained their top-five status with a professional 2-0 victory over the struggling Boulevard Blazers.
Chae Brangman opened the scoring in the 29th minute, and the win was made safe ten minutes after the restart when Chamori Burns doubled the advantage.
The Blazers remain rooted to the bottom of the table, while the Cougars continue to lurk as a dark horse in the title conversation.
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