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Four days after the Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team flew to the United States for a pre-CONCACAF Championship training camp with just US$500, the team is still awaiting the promised funding from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).
And the Ministry of Sport revealed that the TTFA’s request for sponsorship was so late that it only landed at its office on Tuesday evening when the “Soca Princesses” were already at the Piarco International Airport.
Yet, last night, the only apology for the humiliating debacle came from the TTFA’s women’s coach, American native Randy Waldrum, who said sorry for the tweet that provoked an outpouring of goodwill in Dallas and red faces in Trinidad and Tobago.
(Courtesy ESPN)
On Wednesday morning, as his team started training without water and with no money for lunch, Waldrum tweeted: “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.”
By lunch, national players said random people started turning up with water and snacks while, by dinner, they received pizza from well-wishers. And, by the following morning, there was over US$10,000 in an account the coach set up for the team.
Even the Haitian women’s football team, who the Warriors will face in a vital World Cup qualifier next week, pledged just over US$1,300 to the Princesses.
“Coach takes a stand for the team and look what happened,” wrote Caribbean Cup MVP and T&T striker Mariah Shade, on her Facebook account. “People from all over Dallas are just bringing us carloads of water, Gatorade, food, fruits, snacks and so much more.
“People in another country treating us like this; we are very grateful. #BlessingsInAbundance.”
Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team coach Randy Waldrum apologised for his tweets for financial aid.
However, TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee suggested that Waldrum suffered an “emotional disturbance” and, although he conceded that his administration had erred, it was only Waldrum who was asked to apologise.
“The response was overwhelming however in hindsight the language used to appeal for assistance could have been better,” stated Waldrum, via a TTFA press release yesterday, “and was not meant to cause any embarrassment to the TTFA nor the Trinidad and Tobago public at large.
“If it did by any chance, I apologize in advance for any embarrassment caused.”
Waldrum also thanked Petrotrin again for allowing his team use of its facility before the players left for the United States; although, in a previous tweet, he expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the club house.
For now, Waldrum wants to put the matter behind him and focus on preparing his team for the World Cup qualifiers. Not that there is any chance his tweet will not be the talk of the tournament.
“I am passionate about my players and in making Trinidad and Tobago proud, and like yourself, I understand the tremendous opportunity that lies before us,” stated Waldrum, who led the Princesses to the Caribbean Cup title while working pro bono. “Thank you for all your efforts in light of a very difficult and challenging situation and would like to thank the people that came to our aid including the hundreds of donors, supporters, Ministry of Sport and Petrotrin.”
(Courtesy Jinelle James/Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago captain Maylee Attin-Johnson, in a previous interview with Wired868, gave a more sober analysis.
“Our preparation was abysmal,” said Attin-Johnson. “It was what we didn’t expect after being champions of the Caribbean. But that is water under the bridge now.
“We just have to see what we can do, now that we have all the girls together, to get to the World Cup.”
For the Tim Kee, who is also Port of Spain Mayor and PNM treasurer, and his general secretary Sheldon Phillips, it was just one more embarrassing cock-up to their list.
Since Tim Kee took over the helm of the football body in December 2012, the football body has: failed to audit the body’s accounts, misled the public over an Akeem Adams fundraiser, failed to properly convene its finance committee, reversed a promise to chase funds allegedly siphoned out of the football body by former special advisor Jack Warner, failed to pay technical director Anton Corneal as well as replace him after his resignation, failed to honour courtroom promises made to the 2006 World Cup players and former coach Russell Latapy, hired and fired coaches without approval from the TTFA executive committee and botched administrative duties like making timely requests for funding, selecting local players for a MLS camp, hiring referees for a FA Trophy clash and mediating club disputes at Super League level.
And, this week, the national women’s team was on a plane for Dallas without a single accompanying technical staff member and not even a dollar to pay for transport from the airport to their hotel. Worse, the football body had not even formally requested money to give to the Princesses until that very evening.
Fortunately, one player’s parent, Kenrick Hoyte, is a customs officer and he, along with a TTFA staff member, dipped in their personal bank accounts and came up with US$500, which he gave to the women while they were on the plane.
Tim Kee said his administration’s behaviour was “unpardonable.” But he did not offer an apology for it; nor did he sanction any TTFA staff member and, in particular, his General Secretary for their roles in the farce.
He ensured that Waldrum said sorry though.
(Apology in full)
Randy Waldrum:
Dear Mr. Tim Kee,
As part of my preparation for the upcoming CONCACAF tournament, I have worked under the full awareness of the financial difficulties facing the TTFA, especially its battle to raise awareness and financial support to provide the required level of resources for its women’s national team programs.
Our recent camp in Palo Seco was organized in response to my request for a proper residential camp. Once again, realizing the financial situation of the FA, I worked tirelessly with your General Secretary who successfully lobbied Petrotrin to graciously provide the beach camp facility for free to start our national team preparations.
Concurrently, plans were being put in place to have a 7-day camp in Dallas where I would be able to secure some additional resources to continue the team’s preparation.
However, when eleven players arrived to Dallas on Monday October 6, at that time I had only received partial itinerary information from the team manager with some insight on what was being done in Trinidad regarding the release of funds.
Understanding the challenges the TTFA, I sent out a message on social media site Twitter asking for assistance.
The response was overwhelming however in hindsight, the language used to appeal for assistance could have been better and was not meant to cause any embarrassment to the TTFA nor the Trinidad and Tobago public at large. If it did by any chance, I apologize in advance for any embarrassment caused.
I am passionate about my players and in making Trinidad and Tobago proud, and like yourself, I understand the tremendous opportunity that lies before us.
Thank you for all your efforts in light of a very difficult and challenging situation and would like to thank the people that came to our aid including the hundreds of donors, supporters,Ministry of Sport and Petrotrin.
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Lasana, I am not privy to the inner workings of the TTFA, but we should assess Tim Kee’s performance based on how well he has executed a handful of major strategic objectives that should have been established at the outset. But that’s just me eh…many of us prefer to focus on dotishness and trivialities while the big ticket items go unaddressed.
People are aware that Tim Key was 1 of Jack cronies. The only reason they bust up is because Jack is UNC and Tim Key is PNM.
Wen Sports Journalist stop Being to friendly with Thé Admistration and Write Facts We will get somewhere I shall say No more
a bit harsh there Adrian on Sherlan…lol… but in all honesty, if you can’t see where the poor management practice is in this instance, then a little more experience in management may be required….
Well, I don’t think it was an isolated incident Gerard. More like a pattern. But I’m not trying to get a vigilante mob going either eh. Lol. My personal view is that neither Tim Kee or Phillips has done enough to justify their roles in football.
You said it perfectly, Adrian Clarke!! ; )
Carlos, Yeah we fighting about they legality of my two footed tackles a while now…. I am yet to be called on it in a real game so in my opinion it legal…
wow, how sad that national players are treated in such a bad way.
Lasana Liburd, who says I am letting them off the hook? BOTH parties are wrong in this matter…I just don’t agree that this incident alone is justifiable grounds for the sacking of the TTFA President. There is a huge difference, ent?
That is true as well Gerard Emile Zatopek Pinard. Although, for context, the TTFA simply didn’t apply in this case.
How can we blame the Ministry of Sport in this instance when the TTFA applied on the day the women were travelled and had a cheque ready within two or three days?
Sherlan Cabralis I don’t know where you learned management. But I felt it was good management to obtain help quickly when none was forthcoming from the TTFA. It took the TTFA 4 days after they arrived to get money to the team. The coach is a hero in my books and managed the situation better than your TTFA crooked idiots that you support.
Lol
I always try to avoid these chats because it always seem to get too emotional. I agree there are 2 issues and we will all agree that TTFF and the administration of Sports in TT is extremely lacking to say the least. But if I have to review a specific issue base on good managment practice, I can only go with my formal training. When the discuss is on how to improve the administration of sports I will tune in.
Exactly Adrian Clarke.
Briggs – Lasana said ur a two-foot tackler. Lol
By the way Hassan C Araujo, the TTFA didn’t apply the day before. The applied on the same afternoon at almost the time the girls had to check in for the flight.
I am not blaming the coach at all. I cant believe these people studying embarrassment before the well being of the players. Shameful.
Bottom line is that BOTH parties were wrong. TTFF’s bungling of the travel and financial arrangements AND the manner in which the Coach chose to deal with the problem. Both have contributed to the embarrassment we suffered as a result…but the real problem goes much deeper than that and we all seem to be ignoring this fact. Billions of dollars (our taxpayers’ dollars) go towards Sport but how much of it really goes towards developing our sportspersons at the end of the day?
who say my tackles were illegal? 🙂
They just might end your budding career:-)
Lasana – beware of players making illegal tackles. Lol lol
That’s a good point Ian R Briggs… I find I’m agreeing with the two-foot tackler plenty on this one! Haha
yeah, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
A lot of people with authority, but none with responsibility.
Adrian, and this was real easy….. If people can’t see who really wrong on this issue and only focusing on ‘EMBARASSMENT” then one cannot be mad when nothing gets done in Trinidad when real issues and proplems have to be solved….
If Mr creed was PS of ministry of sport the ladies would have gotten there funding
Vernal that is why we have a serious leadership problem or should I say we have no leaders just people in so called high profile positions
Thats Y our Football Would not Reach any place to much Corrupted people who knows nothing bout football running it.
You would think that would be straight forward right Hassan?
shame on TTFA why should he apologise, it is Tim Kee to not only apologise but resign now
The level of idiocy displayed by some of the coach’s detractors is amazing . This coach seems to be a better financial manager and fund raiser than the TTFA.
People could focus on coach action as much as they want…. Fact is the man do what he was supposed to do… protect his team…. so if that mean 2 man and a mickey mouse outfit get embarass so that his charges could EAT so be it…. ..
Lasana TTFA only asked for money the day before they left and they know about the camp long time so what TK really doing ,he certainly not seeing about POS……this was a straight case of slackness on TTFA part but sometimes one has to get embarassed to know they doing crap…..
“The same time it took him to tweet he could have called TTFF.” Really?? As of yesterday no funds from the TTFA reached the team. So tell me how him taking the time to call the TTFA would have fed them since Wednesday?? Instead of talking about why this happened and how to prevent it , some folks want to focus on how the coach should be fired. But not the people who caused it right? Makes sense…Smh
It is the least of all of the TTFA’s problem.
Does no one see that had we hired a coach using (Oh I don’t know) maybe money and sending the team with a budget none of this would have happened?
The coach’s tweet might be A problem. But it isn’t THE problem.
Waldrum could have have phoned some friends with some bank and asked for a loan. Of course, the TTFA probably wouldn’t have honoured it.
He forced the TTFA’s hand and got what he wanted. For good and for bad.
The fact that it should come to that at all is why someone at the TTFA should have paid the price.
I still don’t get why Gerard Emile Zatopek Pinard is letting them off the hook. 🙂
We should have been embarrassed when we accepted the charity of a foreign coach like a special needs nation instead of acting responsibly and proudly by hiring one like a self respecting nation.
Then to compound the shame of it all we send our women’s team to play abroad with only $500 between them.
How is the coach’s tweet the problem?
Kendall Tull, I agree with Ian R Briggs’ analysis. Randy Waldrum is a professional coach with no real ties to Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t think he is without an agenda himself.
I blame the TTFA for the whole farce. I don’t know Waldrum personally so I could be wrong. But I do suspect he wasn’t naive about the implications of his tweet either.
Briggs – so the end justifies the means. Embarrassing an entire nation to get what you want is a-okay? Randy acted like a spoiled brat. But then again this is a part time gig for him. And we’re a lil third world country. So why show us any respect?
I understand he called but was not given a definitive response . Sherlan and other TTFA apologists are the reasons people like Tim Kee hold high office
I see the scars of questionable football administrators is very deep. However, be aware of people bearing gifts.
This is nothing New in TT Football for to long admins have been bleeding the Players Mr Camps and Comp Was and is pt of this Debacule JW
Loris – absolutely. And don’t forget they had no balls and other equipment.
Comparing food and accomodation to key tools to do a job.. and calling failing to provide them shortcomings.. come on be real..
I understand but respect breeds respect which is a two way street (Upward as well as downward)! Unfortunately, sometimes though unintentional in this case, disrespect for your subordinates results in what transpired. What’s unforgiving is that this is not the first time our sports ambassadors have been left undone. This recurring behavior must be stopped and rectified at the management level. As leaders, we must always consider the well-being of our followers/employees/subordinates/sportsmen & women and the potential risks of our decisions, then put in place systems to sense those imminent risks before they occur and address those risks ‘before’ they happen…. otherwise crapeau will smoke your pipe with a BIG smile on his face. Then again, in T&T in our culture, one does not challenge the management for fear of losing one’s job, where as abroad, employees’ working environment and working conditions are protected and employees are allowed to expressed their demise without fear of retribution. So we are dealing with difference in culture as well in this matter.
Sana, which foreign coach you know would coach another country’s NATIONAL TEAM for FREE? TTFF Pimping him and he PIMP back on twitter…. he just show TTFA how much weight he has… 1 tweet =$10,000+ US in funds, oddles and oddles of support, news coverage, and an unwilling TTFA to cough up over $250,000 TT in funds in less than 2 days….. and all it cost him was an apology? TTFA just got out played in the smart man game…… and as I said before, this is what happens when people who THINK they are professionals meet REAL professionals….. at some point embarrassment will happen…
Its Nothing New this has been going on for YEARS
Sherlan – well said. Some folks just can’t seem to separate the coach’s unprofessionalism from the TTFA’s shortcomings. I imagine that if their employer fail to give them one or more key tools to perform
their job they would also go to tweeter and complain. And still expect to keep their job. Smh
TTFF knew the players left with no money.. why should he call them to tell them what they already knew and seem not to be too concerned about! also correct .. its about management – the TTFF..