Trinidad and Tobago just made it to the United States for the final round of qualifying for the 2015 Women's World Cup, a goal the island nation has never achieved in its 23 years of fielding a women's soccer team.
It's not going to be easy: the "Soca Princesses" have arrived with, quite literally, not much more than the kits on their backs.
Their (unpaid) coach is Randy Waldrum of the NWSL's Houston Dash, but who is probably better known for leading Notre Dame to national titles in 2004 and 2010. When the T&T women arrived in Dallas last night, Waldrum was shocked to learn just how unprepared their Football Association left them.
It's a miracle T&T has even made it this far, and I don't mean winning the Caribbean Cup on home soil to qualify for this final round of qualifying.
The Soca Princesses were supposed to leave for the U.S. last Saturday, but the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association didn't have the $40,000 it said it needed to process the team's visa applications. Only last minute financial support from the Ministry of Sport and the state-owned oil company allowed the team to take off.
If you're able and willing to help, you can reach Waldrum at rwaldrum@houstondynamo.com.
Trinidad and Tobago open up qualifying against the USWNT at Kansas City's Sporting Park on Oct. 15.
Randy Waldrum (tweet)
I need HELP! T&T sent a team here last night with $500 total. No equipment such as balls, no transportation from airport to hotel, nothing.
I don't know how I'm going to feed these players starting at lunch today! If you know of anyone in Dallas area that will help with food, etc
Please let me know asap! And I'm suppose to qualify this team for a World Cup! I have to help these players somehow..they deserve better.