Bermuda Football Association (BFA) officials remained tight-lipped in Barbados last night over the mysterious circumstances which have denied national team striker Shaki Crockwell the right to accompany the team to the Caribbean for the Digicel Cup.

Crockwell was not permitted to board American Airlines’ flight 1443 to New York yesterday morning at Bermuda Airport by immigration officials.

Yet when queried over the matter last night, BFA technical committee chairman Mark Trott stated: “The player did what he had to do but was denied by US immigration. Therefore that’s an issue between the player and US immigration.”

But according to reports, it is understood Crockwell had been put on the stop list for a past run in with the law in the US.

Crockwell’s plight was just one of several setbacks which affected Bermuda’s eventful journey to Barbados.

For starters, the morning flight from Bermuda was delayed for 30 minutes as some passengers turned up late.

And to make matters worse the team was then delayed a further one hour and 20 minutes at John F Kennedy Airport in New York due to a mechanical failure on the Boeing 767 American Airlines jet.

College students Nigel Burgess and defender Logan Alexander were also delayed in Miami after their plane encountered mechanical problems, while pro striker John Barry Nusum and Kevin Richards both missed their flights from Philadelphia and England.

Nusum, though, was able to catch an alternative flight and arrived late last night in the Caribbean via San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Richards, however, was not as fortunate and will now arrive in Barbados today.

After being tossed about the cabin in turbulent winds for most of the four-hour flight from New York, Bermuda’s travel weary national team safely touched down at Grantly Adams International Airport shortly after 5 p.m..

Yet their troubles were far from over as by now frustrated team members were delayed for at least another hour after it was discovered the luggage of equipment manager Gary Ray hadn’t arrived.

All finally seemed to be well during the short ride from the airport to the hotel.

But the relief would be short-lived once again as the team’s hotel were suddenly switched at the last-minute to an alternative that was met with significant disapproval of the Bermuda entourage — among them assistant national coach Paul Scope.

“It’s a bit disappointing because we were advised last week that we were staying at a place called Barbados Beach Club which was an acceptable hotel,” he said.

“Now today we are being told we have been moved to a different hotel. I’m sure it’s adequate and the rooms are clean. However, the configuration that they are suggesting to us is unacceptable.

“The rules of the Digicel Cup competition certainly state that we have to be supplied with ten double rooms for the players for a squad of 20 and then single accommodation for the officials. But what’s been suggested so far is just not acceptable.

“They want three people to live in one room and I’ve already had a look at them. There’s a little cot or makeshift bed which is not acceptable for a grown man that’s going to play three matches in five-days to sleep on.

“It’s the responsibility of the host nation to give us acceptable accommodation — and we will not accept anything less.”

At press time last night Bermuda team officials were still trying to locate at an alternative hotel.