Currently overseeing the national senior women’s team preparations in Houston, American-born coach Randy Waldrum has commended the T&T Football Association (TTFA) for its efforts in sending the team to the United States for a training camp.
Waldrum said it has been a boost to the team’s readiness ahead of the Caribbean Final round of World Cup qualification which gets going in T&T on August 19. T&T plays its first game against St Kitts/Nevis on Wednesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium at 7.15 pm.
“Being able to get the Trinidadians here to Houston to train, then that didn’t make it difficult,” Waldrum told Goal USA.
“It would’ve been almost impossible for me to get back and forth; I couldn’t have done it. But since Trinidad and the federation made a commitment to send the players in, that was a big help, so that part’s worked out nicely.”
Waldrum coached one of the nation's youth sides several years ago and says quality of play and federation support has increased exponentially - especially the new administration in charge of the TTFA. Still, though, there are many hurdles to clear before the region is able to compete regularly with the powerhouse teams in North America.
“I think the Caribbean has got to make its commitment to the women’s game strong from top to bottom both in the grassroots and also in the national team programs,” Waldrum said. “And I think the other piece of it is just finances are always going to be an issue. More money has to be poured in the women’s side.”