The American soccer community, among them T&T ex-patriots, responded in a huge way to cries for assistance from Trinidad and Tobago’s American coach Randy Waldrum for financial assistance for the national women’s team, after they arrived in Dallas on Tuesday night without food and equipment.
United States-based “friends” responded with US$9,300 in donations to a Paypal account set up, while the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) sent another US$40,000 after receiving a cheque from the Ministry of Sport.
The TTFA has been able to solicit just token funding for the team from the local business community. And there was some measure of scorn poured on local businesses, with Ontario-based T&T businessman Prem Babwah of Advanced Bakery Ingredient Limited stating: “They deserve better” should be on all Trini lips especially those who have anything to do with this extremely terrible and totally embarrassing situation. Is there any proud Trinidadian in the island today?”
The Soca Princesses had earlier gone into World Cup qualifying with a collective US$500, while the cash-strapped Trinidad and Tobago Football Association waited on promised funding from the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Yesterday, Waldrum graciously thanked all who contributed to the relief effort.
“Absolutely amazing”, he said. “In just eight hours, we collected $9,300 for the T&T WNT! Big “soca” thanks to all who donated,” Waldum tweeted. “Overwhelming response to Trinidad WNT today. Humanity exists & I’m so proud of the way the soccer community came to our rescue.”
Yesterday, there were regular visits to the team hotel by ex-patriots living in the USA, among them Lincoln Phillips, a former Trinidad and Tobago technical director. Bringing anything from cases of water, gatorade, and cash, there was a steady flow of persons to the team’s Dallas base. And although the aid has come in, Waldrum has urged people to continue contributing since the team would have additional expenses in the four US cities to which they would be travelling, seeking to grab a spot in next year’s World Cup.
T&T begin the eight-team Concacaf Women’s Championship in Kansasa City on October 15 against the United States, highest-ranked team in the world. Caribbean champions T&T then meet the third-placed Caribbean side Haiti on October 17 in Chicago, and Guatemala on October 20 in Washington. The knockout round of the tournament is then scheduled for Pennsylvania.
“I’ll get to the many thank you’s as quickly as I can..so many people came through, including the TTFA with additional funding!” Waldrum tweeted further. “The TTFA has helped us all they can, more money & staff coming today. It’s been a struggle, they have tried to help us as much as possible.”
Trinidad and Tobago vice-captain Ayana Russell addded: “Now everything starts to fall in place, thanks.”
RELATED NEWS
TTFA boss seeks to explain Dallas fiasco.
By Mark Pouchet (Express).
All a mix-up
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee said a communication mix-up led to the statements from American coach of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s football team Randy Waldrum pleading for assistance Wednesday.
Tim Kee said Waldrum apologised in a written letter yesterday but Tim Kee said the damage was already done in terms of the public outrage and embarrassment to the nation.
But Tim Kee said the social media outburst of the coach was a symptom of some of the malaise at the organisational structure of the TTFA.
At a press conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday, Tim Kee outlined a previous situation where the technical staff, including coach Waldrum, had endorsed the Petrotrin facilities for a training camp for the senior women only for Waldrum to use social media to express his disapproval a few days later.
Tim Kee said Waldrum had issued a letter of apology to Petrotrin and the TTFA then too
“So when I saw that communique from the coach, I said ‘oh my God! I hope it is not same thing that happened before and this letter he (Waldrum) wrote this morning (yesterday) confirms that,” said Tim Kee
“I am not here to pass blame, but I thought the national community and all who was listening should have an appreciation of the facts.
Tim Kee apologised for the shame and pain caused.
“No amount of excuses or reasons or explanations could erase what happened yesterday (Wednesday) because of what you call an emotional disturbance,”
But Tim Kee said the players had an excellent training session Wednesday afternoon, there is no complaint of discomfort and they are eagerly and excitedly awaiting the start of the competition on October 15.
Tim Kee advised that the US $500 was indeed given to the players for ground transport and meals with the knowledge that more money was on the way.
The Ministry of Sport yesterday stepped in to issue $250,000 to supplement the team’s preparations.
“He (Waldrum) should have been communicated with, that is something there is no pardon or forgiveness for from the administration, it is unpardonable, so when the coach saw the players and in conversation learnt they only had 300 and made statements, I can’t blame him,” Tim Kee said. “I am not blaming the coach, perhaps before he went there (social media), he should have called here (TTFA).”
Tim Kee said the breakdown in communication was a symptom of a bigger problem of governance and structure.
“The governance and structure of the organisation is faulty,” Tim Kee said, adding that is why he mandated a reform commission headed by Raoul John of KPMG.
He said some of the major reforms to come out of the process would be one club one vote and the inclusion of three independent professionals on the executive.