There was a party atmosphere at LF Wade International Airport last night as Bermuda’s players returned from the Concacaf Caribbean Women’s Under-17 qualifying tournament in Haiti.

A crowd of more than 200 people turned up to show their appreciation for the team’s qualification to the tournament finals in Nicaragua early next year.

Bermuda clinched one of two automatic qualifying spots after winning their group before losing 4-1 against the host nation in the final of the qualifying tournament at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince on Sunday night.

Bermuda Football Association officials handed bouquets of flowers to the players as they filed out of the airport to be greeted by loud cheers from a patriotic crowd waving flags and blowing air horns.

Among the dignitaries attending the brief ceremony were David Burt, the Premier, and ministers Zane DeSilva, himself a former Somerset Eagles goalkeeper, and Lovitta Foggo along with Mark Wade, the BFA president.

Danni Watson, the Bermuda captain, was overwhelmed by “all this love” shown by the large crowd swarming outside the arrivals terminal.

“I am in shock at how many people are here,” she said. “I am really happy with all the support that we’ve got from the whole island.

“I wish our overseas players could be here to get all this love and support that we hear from everybody.

“Our girls worked really, really hard for this opportunity that we’ve earned by working our tails off six days a week.

“We trained, we worked and put in the extra time and energy training on our own and I really want to thank everybody for supporting us.

“This is really overwhelming and I know my team say the same. We love you so much and thank you!”

Aaron Denkins, the interim Bermuda coach, said his players were deserving of such a warm reception.

“It is a bit overwhelming for me but well deserved by the girls,” he said.

“We were the youngest team in the tournament, we had the youngest captain and the leading goalscorer [LeiLanni Nesbeth].

“We were the only team to score on Haiti, we maintained our unbeaten streak against Trinidad, so well done guys!

“The important thing is this support by everybody here. That’s what got them through.

“We spent a lot of time talking about what it means to be Bermudian, what it means to be resilient and I think they proved that.

“But what I am challenging the players to do now is be humble, stay focused because the job is not done.”