Five international Suncorp Super Netball athletes who returned to their home countries during the COVID-19 lockdown have been granted government permission to return to Australia.
Phumza Maweni (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Lenize Potgieter and Shadine Van der Merwe (Adelaide Thunderbirds) will now look to make the journey back from South Africa, and Nat Haythornthwaite (NSW Swifts) and Layla Guscoth (Adelaide Thunderbirds) will travel from England.
The Suncorp Super Netball league successfully sought exemptions from the Australian Border Force Commissioner for the five athletes to re-enter Australia ahead of the 2020 season.
Upon arrival, the athletes will adhere to biosecurity measures that are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID19, including 14 days quarantine in accommodation nominated by the state governments.
Adelaide Thunderbirds Head Coach Tania Obst said the Club was thrilled to be one step closer to having Potgeiter, Van der Merwe and Guscoth back in Australia.
“We’re relieved to receive the exemption and I know how pleased the athletes are,” Obst said.
Obst said the Club will now look at the next steps to ensure the athletes’ arrivals.
“There are still a number of logistics we must work through to ensure they return safely,” Obst said.
“We will also adhere to all quarantine requirements on their arrival in Australia to ensure the continued safety of our netball and wider community.”
This announcement comes as the league has issued strict training guidelines to all Suncorp Super Netball clubs outlining the medical and logistical measures that need to be adhered when teams are given the green light to return to training.
Suncorp Super Netball CEO Chris Symington said league management were in the final stages of confirming how and when a season will take place.
“There are still several moving parts we’re working through in confirming detail of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season and we have many people working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure this is locked away as soon as possible," Mr Symington said.
“We appreciate our fans are patiently waiting for news on when and how the 2020 season will happen and we hope to be announcing further information around this by the end of the week.
“The league is excited that our international athletes who returned home will be back on Australian soil soon and we’re confident we’ll see our teams back to some type of group training in the near future.”
