It seems like a case of déjà vu for the senior national women footballers. Four years ago, a few days before the start of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers for the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Canada, out of frustration the then coach Randy Waldrum pleaded with the TTFA to show his players respect. He tweeted “I need HELP! T&T sent a team here last night with $500 total. No equipment such as balls, no transportation from the airport to the hotel, nothing.” Waldrum's response/reaction or 'emotional disturbance' was brought about by administrative blunders by the TTFA. The Haitian team provided temporary relief by donating US$ 1300.00 to the national team to meet basic needs such as food and transportation.
In 2018, funding is an issue yet again with a breakdown in communication between the team's manager and the TTFA in terms of acquiring financial support from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA).
In 2014, the team did not play any competitive matches friendly international matches between the Caribbean Cup and the CONCACAF qualifiers. In 2018 the team has not played any competitive friendly internationals between the Caribbean Cup and two weeks before the start of the CONCACAF qualifiers against Panama on October 4th. The other teams in their group are Mexico and the USA. What does this say about their preparation? How serious are the administrators? What message is being sent to the players?
Unlike 2014, in 2018, with the start of the tournament on October 4th, the position of coach is shrouded in uncertainty owing in part to internal wrangling within the TTFA. The issue of the coach has continued to be a problem as Italian Carolina Morace and her three foreign assistants who were appointed in February 2017 to launch the national team women's programme have all departed.
The current problems facing the national senior team is coming on the heels of the national Under-15 team not participating in the CONCACAF Under-15 tournament in August owing to the late application for visas into the USA.
In 2014, the then TTFA president stated that the 'governance and structure of the organization is faulty'. Is it the same reason for the repeat situation that the women team faces today or is it something that only applies to the women's football? It is important for the TTFA to restore confidence in the public about its ability to efficiently, effectively and transparently organise football in the country. These lessons have to register quickly as greater challenges lay ahead. It cannot be business as usual.
"I don't feel it is necessary to know exactly what I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning." Michel Foucault.