President of the Trinidad and Tobago Netball Association Pat Butcher said the association is doing everything it can to get its two professional netballers home soon.

Daystar Swift and Khalifa McCollin have been stranded in Barbados for the past month after attempting to return home after their debut season in the Suncorp Super League in Australia.

They were awaiting their final travel documents from the TT Government to return home. Since the pandemic began, TT closed its borders to all commercial flights. Persons wishing to gain entry to the island first have to receive special exemption documentation that will allow them entry into the island.

Meantime, they have been staying with a fellow netballer in Barbados but they are reportedly running out of cash.

“It’s really tough because we have to purchase our own food, pay for transportation and funds are running low,” McCollin told Trinidadian newspaper Newsday.

Butcher told Sportsmax.TV that the association has reached out to government in the hope that the relevant authorities will expedite the documentation the players need to return home.

“TTNA has been working behind the scenes and has made representation to Government on their behalf. We are hoping and praying that they will be back on the next official flight from Barbados,” the president said.

The players have been frustrated as their attempts to get home have been met mainly with silence from the relevant authorities.

“We’re only getting automated responses saying our message was received. Nothing else after that, no updates, no acknowledgement of our letters, nothing,” they said.