Created: Feb 13, 2026 07:16 PM (Updated: Feb 13, 2026 07:20 PM)
Paget Lions captain Diaje Hart left, and North Village’s Judah Chapman are going up against each other on Saturday night in the FA Cup (File photograph by Ras Mykkal)
As his side prepare to square off with Paget in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Bernard Park tomorrow night (8pm), North Village coach Calvin Dill Jr believes that their defence in the competition is in their hands.
With five matches left in the Premier Division, Village find themselves fourth on the standings on 22, while PHC lead with 27 points. After losing their last match at home to the leaders, Dill’s side need results to go their way if they are to retain the championship.
“Our FA Cup defence is in our hands, we have to go out there and defend it,” Dill told The Royal Gazette.
“We got PHC in our last match and it was a good game. We ended up losing 1-0 but it was a good game.
“Despite that result, the spirits are high. We just have to go on and take Paget just as seriously as any other game.
“We are looking to take what we have done in training and put it on the field. We had good recovery sessions and the boys are all recovered and ready to go.
“We had our last training session on Thursday and the numbers were good. The boys put in a hard shift, the belief is there we can do it.”
Paget coach Antwan Russell, whose side reached the semi-finals last season, wants to put the team’s struggles in the league behind them.
“League form goes out the window in cup games,” he said.
“We’re going all the way in the competition. We’re not just getting to make up numbers, we feel like we’re hard done by in the league as our position shows.
“We feel like we’re playing some good football. My boys seem to be up for it, we had a good night in training on Thursday, so we’ll just see what Saturday brings.”
Paget, who have seven matches left in the league, are looking to mount a strong challenge to get out of the relegation zone.
“We’re in the relegation spots, I think we have two or three games in hand, but we need points on the board,” Russell said.
“I’m not really too fussed about games in hand, I’m worried about points on the board. As you have seen this season, this is a crazy time for football in Bermuda.
“There’s no real runaway with the league. Everything is pretty tight at the top and the bottom, so anybody can beat anybody on the day.”
Devonshire Colts, who are still in the hunt for the double, have X-Roads standing in their way at Police Field on Sunday (2pm).
Ray Jones, the Colts coach, conceded that X-Roads will be tough competition.
“We know this will be a difficult match as it will be the fourth time we are playing them this season,” Jones said.
“We know they will be up for it as we have beaten them the previous three times. The camp is in good spirits, we have had three good days of training and our goal is to be in the hat for the next round.
“I have advised my team that league form has no bearing on cup matches. Nevertheless, we are hoping to be in the next draw.”
X-Roads started off the season on fire and at some stage were on top in the Premier Division. However, results have not gone their way lately in the league, with three draws and five defeats in their last eight matches.
While he will be without some players, X-Roads coach Farid El Karfa is targeting a spot in the next round.
“This FA Cup match is an opportunity for us to progress to the semi-finals,” El Karfa said.
“We are aware we play an opposition that is not easy, but we are well prepared for this special event.
“We will be missing a few players due to injury and travel, but the rest of our squad are ready to go out there and represent our club well.”
A spot in the semi-finals will be on offer when St George’s Colts clash with Devonshire Cougars at Wellington Oval on Sunday (2pm).
