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The Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team will start its Canada 2015 World Cup campaign on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium without its 52-year-old American head coach Randy Waldrum.
Instead, Waldrum’s 33-year-old son, Ben Waldrum, will run the Trinidad and Tobago squad in his father’s place when the host nation kicks off against St Kitts and Nevis from 7.15 pm in the second game of a Caribbean Cup double header in Port of Spain.
(Courtesy ESPN)
Team manager Vernetta Flanders explained that Waldrum, who has supposedly offered his services for free for the Caribbean Cup, was forced to remain in Texas due to a rescheduled fixture for his employer, Houston Dash. He is expected to join the squad before the women face Antigua and Barbuda on Friday night.
Flanders said the younger Waldrum, who is a youth team coach at MLS club FC Dallas, was present at the squad’s training camp in Houston and is familiar with the players.
Trinidad and Tobago women’s captain Maylee Attin-Johnson left no doubt as to the importance of the inaugural Caribbean Cup tournament to her squad as she addressed the media today.
The top four Caribbean teams will advance to the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in the United States this October; and three automatic spots and a World Cup play-off berth are at stake there.
It means that, for the first time, five CONCACAF teams can get to the World Cup finals. And Trinidad and Tobago intends to be one of them.
Cordner will be in action in Port of Spain this week.
(Courtesy Goalwa)
“This (tournament) is new to the Caribbean and each team is looking forward to it,” said the 28-year-old T&T captain. “We realise this is our best chance to qualify out of CONCACAF…”
The stylish, composed playmaker urged local football fans to come out and support the women. Tickets cost $20 for the group stage matches and $50 for the final.
“We believe we are the number one team in the Caribbean, so the target is on our back,” said Attin-Johnson. “We are going to hold ourselves accountable and do everything we can to come out with the Cup…
“We hope you are the instruments to our orchestra. So we hope you come out and give us 100 percent support.”
Attin-Johnson and teammates Rhea Belgrave, Karen Forbes and Arin King represented Trinidad and Tobago at today’s Caribbean Cup media launch along with team captains from the other competing nations.
The Trinidad and Tobago players were the only ones in the room with no logos or identifying marks, which showed what nation they represented.
The Trinidad and Tobago players were the only ones without shirt monograms.
(Courtesy Wired868)
The Caribbean Cup tournament did have the grandest of starts either as its media launch started 27 minutes late and no Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials or Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) executive members turned up.
The Local Organising Committee co-chairmen Raymond Tim Kee, who is also Port of Spain mayor and TTFA president, and Neville Ferguson were both absent along with TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips.
LOC member Richard Piper and match commissioner Sharon O’Brien chaired the meeting in their absences.
The Trinidad and Tobago women would be accustomed to such disorganisation. They were roughly two weeks late for their pre-tournament in camp in Houston as the TTFA struggled to raise the money for tickets and visa applications.
Assistant coach Marlon Charles and four of their players never got to Houston due to passport or visa issues and Attin-Johnson empathised with the players who, through no fault of their own, never got the chance to stake a claim to play in the Caribbean Cup.
She singled out teammate Natasha St Louis, the younger sister of veteran Tasha St Louis, who was devastated after failing to join the pre-tournament camp.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
“That situation was unfortunate and I know Natasha (St Louis) was very disappointed,” she said. “I told her the CONCACAF competition is the most important one and she still has a chance for that… I understand her frustration and I just told her to keep her head up.”
Another absentee was 19-year-old striker Anique Walker, who is a former 2010 Under-17 World Cup player and an ex-national youth team captain. Walker explained that her Caribbean Cup ambitions were doused after a college versus country tussle with her new school, the University of West Florida.
“My college coach didn’t want to release me because he wanted me there for preseason and I would not have gotten I20 visa,” Walker told Wired868. “Jinelle James tried to negotiate for me but he wasn’t answering the calls… It is really unfortunate because, before I signed for the school, I spoke to him and he said I could (play in the Caribbean Cup). But after I signed he changed his story.
“I don’t want to start off my college experience with a bad name…”
Despite the setbacks, Attin-Johnson said the senior team is enthusiastic about representing Trinidad and Tobago and is anxious to do well after a three year absence from international duty.
(Courtesy SPORTT)
“We haven’t played a competitive international since the Pan American Games in 2011,” the national captain told Wired868. “We are unranked by FIFA now because more than 18 months passed since our last game… So we have to deal with that first.”
Attin-Johnson credited Waldrum for his input with the team in Houston and said he was an astute coach.
“Randy has a very high football IQ and his knowledge is vast,” she said. “We had some quality training sessions and I think we learned some new things.”
Hopefully, Ben Waldrum will prove to be just as useful on Wednesday night.
Whoever runs the bench, the national women hope to have hundreds of supporters in the stands urging them on to success.
(Trinidad and Tobago women’s team)
T&T: 1.Kimika Forbes, 2.Ayanna Russell, 3.Lauryn Hutchinson, 4.Rhea Belgrave, 5.Arin King, 6.Taylor Mims, 7.Dernelle Mascall, 8.Afiyah Matthias, 9.Maylee Attin-Johnson (captain), 10.Tasha St Louis, 11.Janine Francois, 13.Shenelle Henry, 14.Karyn Forbes, 15.Patrice Superville, 16.Jo-Marie Lewis, 18.Annalis Cummings, 19.Kennya Cordner, 20.Tinesha Palmer, ?-Khadidra Debesette, 24.Mariah Shade.
2014 Caribbean Cup fixtures
(August 19)
Jamaica v Puerto Rico, 5 pm, Group A, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Haiti v Bermuda, 7.15 pm, Group A, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(August 20)
Antigua and Barbuda v Martinique, 5 pm, Group B, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago v St Kitts, 7.15 pm, Group B, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
(August 21)
Bermuda v Jamaica, 5 pm, Group A, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Puerto Rico v Haiti, 7.15 pm, Group A, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(August 22)
St Kitts and Nevis v Martinique, 5 pm, Group B, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago v Antigua, 7.15 pm, Group B, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
(August 23)
Bermuda v Puerto Rico, 4 pm, Group A, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Haiti v Jamaica, 6.15 pm, Group A, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(August 24)
St Kitts v Antigua and Barbuda, 4 pm, Group B, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago v Martinique, 7.15 pm, Group B, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
(August 26)
Runner-Up A v Runner-Up B, 5 pm, Third-place Play Off, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Winner A v Winner B, 7.15 pm, Caribbean Cup Final, Hasely Crawford Stadium.
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Gordon, I can never cover all the sports and teams at once. What I did with U-15s is I posted the TTFA releases in the Wired868 forum so people still get the information.
I’m making an effort to provide news on the U-17 boys and the senior women. I didn’t see any other media house around when I went to see the U17 boys.
You can’t ask me to stop writing on the negatives with senior team and look at U-15s. Instead, ask the TTFA to stop giving me negatives to write about.
And if I had covered the U-15 girls, I would have also alerted public to fact that barely half the team travelled to play in that competition.
Do you think that is fair on the coach? Is it fair on the girls who were left behind?
It is great that the U-15 team got as far as the semis. But don’t kid me and pretend that they are a shining example of the TTFA doing its work.
when i see a T&T footballer putting the kindah work cyclists and T&F athletes, swimmers…put in? then i will hear yuh on that call.
300,000 yuh say? but less than 1% in the top elite internationally?
much tougher sell bro
An d volleyballers are in huge debts from their last two tournaments! Check that out and track is an individual sport so d perimeters are different!
And over 300000 ppl take part in football so marketability is not as hard as we make it to b if we all work together and not try to make each other look bad!!!
Good sponsorship class! But do u all know that it is d media job to inform d public? Of course d TTFA media department must take so licks but d same way my brother lasana can highlight d no logo, poor preparation lack of funding etc! He should highlight d performances of d u-15 girls and d scarifices d senior women make
sponsorship is a complex equation of visibility, efficacy and efficiency.
does the sponsor’s marketing budget reach more of the audience to increase their brand value by participating in a marketing partnership with a NSO or an event? THAT is the main question to answer.
quite frankly, MOST of T&T sports franchises do not solve this issue for a potential marketing partner. and MOST of the NSOs cannot build TRUST with their partners. would you trust the TTFA/F? then why would you give them money?
Now Dennis, YOU know what you’re talking about. Also Hockey players.
T&T women in sports have their flagships. T&T has SEVERAL working professional track & field athletes, and several volleyballers.
think about the last time you head either of those two federations either in bobol or begging for funds.
Still in La La Land. No sponsors means no advertising to spread the word. Only found out about this tournament thanks to Lasana and Peter Samuel who supports all sports and keep us well informed and always champions the cause.
women sport need a flag ship perhaps football is it! And football need some good news so do not b a cheerleader b an apostle spread d good news and vibes my brother!!
Think Gordon living in La La Land. Lasana has always sought to encourage IMHO.
Ok my brother!!! Do ur job but lets highlight d positives!! D u-15 performances big up rookie women coach! D cup could b half empty or half full
I wish I had a magic wand for sponsors in truth. But it would be wrong to think that the only problem in football today is money.
I can’t just be a cheerleader Gordon. I have to tell readers what is happening. That’s the job.
I’m not discouraging people from going to the games though. I tried to give them reason to go out and watch games.
But I have to provide context on the tournament too… “My brother!” Lol.
gordo, while that’s a great sentiment, the sponsors have been staying away from T&T sports in droves. and i blame lasana for it!
Lets give d girls a chance to represent with pride and without d added weight of negative energy!! Ok my brother!!!! Lol
If u love football which i know u do, lets hightlight d good so sponsors can come on board so all d programs could benefit!!!
Sana my brother!!! Lol could we b positive!! Generate positive energy for d competition so d fans can come out and fill d stands!!
Saw Maylee play a couple times with Caledonia ladies last year, looked a good player
Mr Pierre,
I know your posts are coming from a good place but you are labouring under a serious misapprehension. Marketing is NOT the media’s role, that’s the TTFA’s responsibility. As a member of the media, Lasana’s responsibility is to provide complete, accurate information so that the public – and the potential sponsors – can make judgements based on reality. See where it falls down?
I’ve never ever heard of co-chairmen on a LOC before. Is it that Tim Kee just wants to collect titles?
And notice how on the one hand hand, Tim Kee and Phillips say they inherited a fantastic mess from the old guard that continues to frustrate their wonderful ideas.
But, on the other hand, they keep promoting the old guard like Neville Ferguson to more and more posts.
How unprofessional can you be though!
…sheldon needed gas money then…cause i know Mayor Tim got his isht sorted out
I’d laugh if the situation wasn’t so serious and NO! They don’t need to take taxis they all have their SUV”S remember?
maybe the TTFA/F’s financial woes run deeper than imagined, and they couldnt raise taxi fare?
And Lasana if Fuentes is the Press Officer why wasn’t he at the launch either. Ah set ah bullshit excuses. Wonder what they were really doing instead of their beeping jobs.
Wonder where the sponsorship money from Joma gone. It surely didn’t go into the Women’s kit.
Joma Sport should take a read on this post.
It is just one mix-up after the next… But hopefully things will at least settle down for the tournament. I’m looking forward to seeing the ladies play. It has been a long time since I saw their seniors in action.
Same ole shit different day and No! I will not accept any excuses for Fuentes. He is a lot more involved than just the press officer more like the PP press officer in both senses of the word. Still SMDH!! The whole lot need to go like yesterday. Shame on them for being so disrespectful to our players and our Country. Not even a logo??
To be fair to Fuentes, he is their press officer. So that is part of his job description.
Just last month, Sheldon Phillips was boasting about the Joma deal as one of their great accomplishments.
Firstly, the Joma deal was in motion before he came to Trinidad. Secondly, the negotiations were meant to include a financial payment from Joma but Sheldon did not announce if that happened.
Finally, how you can boast about your sponsorship when national team members are being handed clothes that are not their size to represent their country. And there is not even a logo on the shirt or anything to identify your country?
Can anyone miss the “Jamaica” written across our rivals’ shirts?
Hope someone would intervene for Anique as well as it’s not fair what they’re doing to her and she’s a key player.
SMH!! When will this incompetence end and our athletes get the funding they deserve for so richly persevering to represent our Country. Section 54 is all they have on their idiotic minds and to hell with the rest of the Nation. Tim Kee and Phillips IMHO should have been fired a long time ago and they could take Fuentes with them who does nothing but make excuses for their mess. STEUPS!!
The saga continues! Where Tan Tan?! Everything is mas! Wine, woman, and song!
This ah joke right? First time I hearing thing so! Boy well how we expect anything out of these women when ah coach on de fly coaching them. Nah boy!
Sorry to here about Anique Walker’s situation. The coach shouldn’t have changed his tongue, if indeed it was up to him solely.
Tim Kee & S. Phillips are just as present and effective in TnT football as they were at the media launch today.
My predictions of using Skype or phone calls to Mr. Waldrum (R) was inaccurate. But bringing Benny boy Waldrum for a holiday is okay. Them operating just like the Phillips (Lincoln & Sheldon). I still can’t understand why Coach Marlon didn’t coach the entire team right here. Going to support them 100% anyway.
Let me first say good luck to the women’s team.it is sad to see things are so disorganized. A national team so amazing and this is the regard international coaches have for our national teams in not just trinidad but the caribbean, I call that disrespectful, u send your son to do your job…is this fete match football , ooh god people stand up for something…..come support the girls…still. wooow it never ends.
Let me first say good luck to the women’s team.it is sad to see things are so disorganized. A national team so amazing and this is the regard international coaches have for our national teams in not just trinidad but the caribbean, I call that disrespectful, u send your son to do your job…is this fete match football , ooh god people stand up for something…
Yep. Mollon would have sealed the deal. I”m a fan.
Wish I could sugarcoat it… All the same, I hope people come out to support the women.
I’m looking forward to seeing Maylee, Tasha and Kennya in action. Sorry Ahkeela Mollon isn’t playing.
Lmao. Sure its a big joke!!
Hmmm
Steups
Kern A. Spencer, I get depressed writing them sometimes. But I also urge people to support the women. We don’t want them to suffer for things they are not responsible for.
But we should also hold people responsible for wrongdoing whenever possible.
Anyway I will encourage everyone to come out and support our girls. We playing at home, show them that support even if the authorities does not do it.
I don’t know, but when I read your articles on the state of football in this country I does just get depressed. They pay Pellurud his money as yet.
Ah notice how the coach of UWF didn’t let Anique Walker play for the national team. It’s important for players to understand a scholarship is like a pro contract once you sign that letter of intent. Nonetheless the coach should have allowed her to play.
Really wish these women success on the field. It is painful reading their tortuous journey to the tournament. So many missteps and blunders by the authorities in charge makes you wonder whose side are they on sometimes..