An 11th-hour 'SOS' for Jamaican netball players has salvaged a seemingly doomed first test against the Silver Ferns.
In an unprecedented saga for the sport, the Sunshine Girls only managed to get seven players to New Zealand after visa issues meant five were unable to transit through the US.
But coach Connie Francis told Checkpoint they have managed to locate a Jamaican player living in New Zealand, who played for them at the World Cup 19 years ago. Meanwhile, moves are afoot to have two more players join the squad, at least one of whom will fly over from Australia.
Francis said Carla Borrego who played for Jamaica in the 2003 World Cup now lives in New Zealand and has agreed to make herself available for the two-test series.
Borrego has played in the past in the Suncorp Super Netball series, the top level league in Australia.
"When I heard that she'd be rejoining us I was very happy because she's a very good player and somebody that I'm accustomed to," Francis said.
Carla Borrego playing for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in March 2014. Photo: Photosport / Anthony Au-Yeung
She blamed factors "beyond our control" for the confusing situation that has arisen that has seen the netball series under threat.
She said she was stunned when she was told that another five players remain stranded in Jamaica. A backlog for visas has arisen in the US due to Covid-19 and efforts to re-route the players through Germany or Singapore fell through.
"I cannot say where the fault lies. All I know right now is that something didn't go through that should have. It's beyond New Zealand and Jamaica control and we just have to accept that and just move forward ."
Jamaica was also coping with injuries to some players since their silver medal success at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, she said.
She did not believe Jamaica had ever experienced such a situation before.
"It's new and it's just a learning process for both New Zealand and Jamaica and we have certainly learned from this thing."
Francis was confident the two-test series in Auckland would now go ahead although she was not willing to predict wins for her side.
"I will just say that we'll give a good account of ourselves."
While Netball NZ is likely to take a financial hit from the setback of cutting a three-test series to two, Francis said the Jamaica squad had been treated with great warmth since their arrival yesterday.
