‘I was a bit shaken’

National senior netballer Khadijah Williams said she was left devastated after her purse containing her passport and money was stolen while on tour in Sydney, Australia, a few weeks ago.

Williams, a member of the Sunshine Girls squad, said that the incident occurred at a shopping mall where players were sightseeing shortly after the conclusion of the three-Test series against Australia. The theft forced her to remain behind when the team departed, as she was unable to travel without official identification.

“It was a very unfortunate incident that took place and it was something that I didn’t expect,” Williams said. “I was a bit shaken because the money comes and goes, but I really needed my passport because I had my US visa, my English visa and my Australian visa also. Not being able to leave with the team was the issue for me.”

Williams explained that members of the team had stopped at a store during their outing, and she was browsing in the baby section while assisting teammate Nicole Dixon, who was travelling with her infant.

“We were sightseeing, but we went into a store and I was in the baby section because we travel with Nicole Dixon’s baby. I hung the bag up and by the time I realised, it was missing. I was wondering if someone was watching us, because it went missing very fast,” she said.

FRUSTRATING SITUATION

The experienced wing attack, who has earned more than 80 international caps and has been a mainstay of the national programme for over a decade, said the situation was especially frustrating, given her usual vigilance while travelling.

“I am always very careful whenever I am travelling, but I guess it was just a very unfortunate situation. Had there been a safe at the hotel that we were staying, I wouldn’t have been in this situation,” she noted.

Following the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Sport, and the consulate in Tokyo, Williams was able to secure emergency travel documents, allowing her to return home last Friday.

“I am very happy to be home and it is just about resetting my mind, getting my stuff sorted, and then getting back into training for the Commonwealth Games this year,” she added.

The off-court setback came at the end of a challenging tour for the Sunshine Girls, who were swept 3-0 in the series by the world’s number-one-ranked Australians.