Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum

Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on October 28, 2014, 12:42:26 AM

Title: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Flex on October 28, 2014, 12:42:26 AM
Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
By Andrew Gioannetti (Guardian).


T&T’s senior women’s team rose above a number of challenges including injuries, fatigue and a lack of preparedness to stand tall among the best in the confederation at the Concacaf Women’s Championship.

Void of injuries, Waldrum said he will have the team prepared to defeat Comnebol’s third placed overall finisher Ecuador to earn a place in next year’s World Cup. T&T will travel to the high-altitude South American nation for a November 8 away fixture, just over three weeks before the return fixture in T&T on December 2 at a stadium to be announced.

The “Women Soca Warriors” lost 4-2 to Mexico after conceding two goals in extra-time in the third place playoff, before host nation USA routed Costa Rica 6-0 in the final on Sunday.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, Waldrum spoke of his team’s struggles against Costa Rica and against Mexico, and expressed his belief that T&T’s women’s team is very much capable of defeating Ecuador over two legs to become the first Caribbean team to qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

“In light of the short time I’ve had, I’m really encouraged by the way the team has performed... But, there’s a lot of work to do and so I’m anxious and excited about this time I’m going to have going forward to get ready with Ecuador. And, I’m still saying, we’re going to qualify,” Waldrum said.

This year saw T&T secure its second best ever finish in the tournament. Formerly the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup (2010 and before), T&T placed third in the inaugural edition in 1991. T&T also placed fourth in 1994 after a five-team round-robin.

T&T was impressive throughout the tournament, opening with a 1-0 loss to the USA (the best result by any team against the host in the tournament). The team secured a 1-0 win over Haiti and a 2-1 win over Guatemala to reach the semifinals against Group B winner, Costa Rica on Friday. But after a 1-1 draw after extra time, the Central American outfit triumphed 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out.

That, without the level and duration of preparation granted most of the other teams in the tournament, according to Waldrum.

“For the amount of time we had for our preparations and for everybody knows, (it’s) well documented...I’m really, really proud of this team,” he said.

“You know, we haven’t been healthy since we’ve been here. We’ve been without Ayanna Russell, without Janine Francois, we’ve been without Tasha St Louis, healthy, Baby (Karyn Forbes) just played a little bit (45 minutes) in the Costa Rica game (and) a little over a half today (68 minutes), she’s not completely healthy and those are really, really key players for us. So, having said that, for us to battle the way we have with basically a young squad and a makeshift line-up every game to plug holes, I’m really, really proud of the way these kids have battled,” the former national women’s U-17 coach said.

“We were right there. Penalty kicks against Costa Rica and honestly with 10 or 12 minutes left to go up 2-1 (against Mexico), you know, we should have been able to hold that lead and ride the game out,” Waldrum admitted.

“I’m proud of them. It leaves me good hope now that we (are) starting to get good support from the Ministry of Sport and the fans back home and the people of T&T, it gives me great hope now that the next week and a half, 10 or 12 days we have to prepare for Ecuador, that we will be quite ready for them. So, I’m just excited about it.”

The Ministry of Sport and the TTFA will host a media conference and welcome reception for the returning members of the Trinidad and Tobago senior women’s team (Soca Princesses) following the team’s arrival tonight at 7.40 on United Airlines via Houston.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: royal on October 28, 2014, 05:22:43 AM
Good going ladies God alone know what you can do with proper preparation
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Sando on October 28, 2014, 07:53:50 AM
Lets see the kind of preparations they will get now.

They've earned big respect.

The TTFA did well also.

Good job all round.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: elan on October 28, 2014, 10:01:13 AM
Lets see the kind of preparations they will get now.

They've earned big respect.

The TTFA did well also.

Good job all round.




How so?
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Sando on October 28, 2014, 10:15:39 AM
Lets see the kind of preparations they will get now.

They've earned big respect.

The TTFA did well also.

Good job all round.



How so?

Ture, my bad.

It should have been Waldrum did well also.

His plead got help from everyone including the government.

And now the TTFA trying to hide the fact, saying, the funds were here, just was late.

 ;)

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: spideybuff on October 28, 2014, 02:02:21 PM
Waldrum seems to be able to do well in preparing the girls for opponents. He obviously didn't have time to prepare them for Mexico and Costa Rica compared to how well prepared they were for the group stage opponents.

A team that get 6 from a side who beat us 1-0 definitely should not have been running rings around us the way Costa Rica did before the pks.

I confident that given the time we now have to prepare for Ecuador, we will beat them.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Mose on October 28, 2014, 02:08:25 PM
Allyuh need to keep in mind that Ecuador also has time to prepare for us.  :beermug:
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Flex on October 28, 2014, 03:11:31 PM
Playoff dates confirmed.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).


MIAMI – CONCACAF confirmed Monday the schedule for Trinidad & Tobago’s participation in the intercontinental play-in series, which will qualify an additional team to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

The Trinidadians, by virtue of their fourth-place finish in the recently concluded CONCACAF Women’s Championship USA 2014, has qualified for the playoff and will take on the South American Football Confederation’s third-place finisher, Ecuador, in a home-and-away playoff beginning November 8 in South America.

The first of the two-game series, an aggregate goal matchup administered by FIFA, will take place at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito, kicking off at 2 PM local time (2 PM EST) on November 8.  The return leg is scheduled to be played on December 2 in Trinidad & Tobago.
 


The winner of the series will earn one of the three remaining available World Cup berths.  Twenty-one finalists are confirmed, including an all-time high of four teams from CONCACAF.
 
CONCACAF Women’s Championship champion United States – Women’s World Cup champion in 1991 and 1999 -- has qualified for its seventh consecutive Women’s World Cup, while CONCACAF runner-up Costa Rica will debut.

The two CONCACAF Women’s Championship finalists will be joined in Canada by third-place CONCACAF Championship finisher Mexico.
 
World Cup host Canada also has its spot assured in the tournament. Trinidad & Tobago will increase the number to five CONCACAF representatives, if it emerges victorious from the series versus Ecuador.


The draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 will take place on December 6, in the National Capital Region of Ottawa-Gatineau.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Socapro on October 28, 2014, 03:30:03 PM
Sancho wants greater support for TT women
By JOEL BAILEY Tuesday, October 28 2014 (T&T Newsday)
FORMER TRINIDAD and Tobago defender Brent Sancho is calling for greater support for the national women’s team, as they prepare for their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification CONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff against Ecuador, on November 8 (in Ecuador) and December 2 (in TT).


The winner of the two-leg playoff will progress to the Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Trinidad and Tobago failed to gain automatic qualification on Sunday, when they fell to a 4-2 defeat, in extra-time, by Mexico in the third-place playoff of the CONCACAF Women’s Championships at the PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, United States.

According to Sancho, in a telephone interview yesterday, “I think, first and foremost, we failed these women, with the preparation that they had, not just the (US) $500 fiasco but even before that. I think we failed them miserably, in terms of making sure that everything was in place for their preparation to be successful.

“I think it’s imperative that we, not just the governing body but also Government and corporate Trinidad and Tobago give priority to these bunch of girls (for them to qualify) to the World Cup by making sure that we give them every single thing needed to assist with their qualification,” he added. “I don’t think we should leave any stone unturned to make sure that we put all that we need to be put in place, and we don’t spare any expense.”

Sancho was a member of the “Soca Warriors” team, under the guidance of Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker, that qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

But the national women squad, dubbed the Soca Princesses, will have to play the first leg of the playoff at altitude in Quito, Ecuador.

Asked about the altitude factor, Sancho replied, “from my experience playing the sport, it’s always a difficult proposition for any team. I’ve seen World Champions and all struggle to play at altitude. Our CONCACAF neighbours Mexico have consistently used it to their advantage.”

He continued, “scientifically, there are procedures that are available to at least give yourself a fighting chance when it comes to altitude. I think that is the realm that we need to go down.”

TT women coach Randy Waldrum was unable to maintain consistency in the starting line-up, as injuries took its toll, with midfielders Tasha St Louis, Karyn Forbes, Ayanna Russell and Janine Francois all spending time on the treatment table.

Sancho, currently the managing director of local club Central FC, noted, “I feel that we can’t leave any stone unturned. I know for a fact there are many players that have Trinidad parentage that play in the US, and here as well. I think we really need to go out there and scratch the surface, and see if we can get players that are of the calibre that could give us that added impetus to push the team forward.”

He added, “when you look at the adversity that this team had throughout the campaign, not just the off-the-field fiasco but the injuries, we need to go out there and probably the players that are within our reach, we need to get them here and make sure they are part of the programme.

“We need to get a pool of players ready, fit and available, to make sure that qualification is our number one goal,” he ended.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: FF on October 28, 2014, 06:27:15 PM
My Ecuadorean colleague tell me this morning that Atahualpa ent no easy place to play.
He played there before and he say is real licks if you ent accustom.
One possible good thing he say is dat de stadium may not be ram.

We have to make sure to ram out we home ground.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Bakes on October 28, 2014, 06:39:15 PM
We get permission to post Joel Bailey articles again?  :)
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: kounty on October 28, 2014, 09:38:42 PM
We get permission to post Joel Bailey articles again?  :)
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 28, 2014, 09:54:03 PM
My Ecuadorean colleague tell me this morning that Atahualpa ent no easy place to play.
He played there before and he say is real licks if you ent accustom.
One possible good thing he say is dat de stadium may not be ram.

We have to make sure to ram out we home ground.

I would be surprised if it ram. Footage from the CONMEBOL qualifiers didn't reveal an overwhelming level of support.

This game is likely to be one of the last "big" events before things change. Earlier this year, the go ahead to modernize the stadium went through. After 60 plus years, iz a bit of a relic.

They modernized the airport fairly recently ... so the stadium would be a second major municipal project.
What's proposed is damn impressive.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: King Deese on October 29, 2014, 08:23:24 AM
Yeah.......okay.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: AB.Trini on October 29, 2014, 04:04:17 PM
Sancho wants greater support for TT women
By JOEL BAILEY Tuesday, October 28 2014 (T&T Newsday)
FORMER TRINIDAD and Tobago defender Brent Sancho is calling for greater support for the national women’s team, as they prepare for their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification CONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff against Ecuador, on November 8 (in Ecuador) and December 2 (in TT).



Well look thing nah- yes calling for support is admirable but during the dire straits these women were in at the onset, I did not hear of FC reaching out to assist; I did not hear of anyone of the 2006  Socawarriors recipients of a government handout willing to part with funds ; by the way ent the 2006 recipients were suppose to be actively pursuing someone else to procure funding then ent they suppose to pay back the government prior to the 2015 elections?

Right like the government seeing that money- rob Peter to pay Paul. Just like people go pay back Life Support- see if this nonsense was in order the plead for support may have been a non issue.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: palos on October 29, 2014, 06:59:42 PM
Perhaps our local clubs could support our National teams by releasing players for national duty and training instead of frankomeh blocking them from national duty.

Oh wait....ah fuhget this call for support is just for the women

My bad
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Flex on October 30, 2014, 02:43:28 AM
Soccer Women fly out
T&T Express Reports


TRINIDAD and Tobago senior women’s football team will depart for Mexico City today at 3:30 p.m. for a live-in training camp ahead of their away leg of the FIFA World Cup play-off with Ecuador on November 8. The return leg is scheduled for Port of Spain on December 2.

The entire contingent who returned home on Monday night, will fly out of Piarco Airport, and will be joined in Mexico by head coach Randy Waldrum and the other US-based staff members and players.

The training camp will take place at the Training Centre (Centro de Capacitación, CECAP), one of three operational centres of the Mexican Football Association. The T&T squad are scheduled to arrive in Ecuador on November 5.

Yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association issued a release thanking the Ministry of Sport and Sportt Company for their generous support towards the women’s team through this qualifying campaign and also the men’s senior team, who are getting ready to contest the Caribbean Cup Finals in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

“We’re obviously pleased that the TTFA and the Ministry of Sport have been able to get things in place for this training camp in Mexico.

Everything had to be rushed because of the close timing between our last game and Ecuador away leg. But these few days will go a long way in getting the squad focused and ready again for the match,” Waldrum told TTFA Media.

“We’ll have a good look at the current squad and maybe a look at a couple new players as well during the Mexico camp and get the best possible team to head into Ecuador.”

T&T returned after a fourth-place finish at the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championships in the United States at which the host country, Costa Rica and Mexico were also featured.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: elan on October 30, 2014, 11:46:17 AM
Is it the exact same squad?
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 30, 2014, 03:40:55 PM
Some updates:

1. A German officiating crew has been selected for the encounter v. Ecuador .

Bibiana Steinhaus (ref), Katrin Rafalski (assistant ref), Marina Wozniak (assistant ref); Riem Hussein (4th official). Ref assessor is Swedish ... match commissioner is Dutch.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibiana_Steinhaus
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katrin_Rafalski
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Wozniak
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riem_Hussein

2. Our opponents were called into camp for 7:00pm on Tuesday. Training started yesterday (Wednesday).

Twenty two (22) called ...

Goalkeepers:
Shirley Viviana Berruz Aguilar (ROCAFUERTE F.C.) (starting keeper)
Andrea Carolina Vera Coral (U. SAN FRANCISCO)
Irene Lisset Tobar Mera *** (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
 
Defenders:
Ligia Elena Moreira Burgos C (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Tamara Arelis Angulo Cuero (UNIÓN ESPAÑOLA)
Katherine Solange Ortiz Simisterra (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Nancy Lorena Aguilar Murillo (7 DE FEBRERO)
Merly Cristina Zambrano Mendoza (ESPUCE)
Iliana Katherine Bowen Bravo (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
 
Midfielders:
Mayra Fabiola Olvera Reyes (7 DE FEBRERO)
Angie Paola Ponce Baque (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Ingrid Roxana Rodríguez Alvarado (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Adriana Margarita Barre Cusme (GALÁPAGOS F.C.)
Kerlly Lizeth Real Carranza (QUITO F.C.)
Medelein Estefanía Riera Bajaña *** (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
 
Forwards:
Andrea Denisse Pesántes Tenorio (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Erika Paola Vásquez Valencia (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Giannina María Lattanzio Flores (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Ambar Gillians Torres Laz (ROCAFUERTE F.C.)
Carina Elizabeth Caicedo Caicedo (QUITO F.C.)
Mónica Quinteros Cabeza *** (7 DE FEBRERO)
Kelly Jahaira Vera Delgado *** (GRUPO 7)

*** new to the squad
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Deeks on October 30, 2014, 03:45:16 PM
Damn, we playing club ROCAFUERTE!!!  Hard Rock!!!!
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 31, 2014, 01:39:48 AM
Damn, we playing club ROCAFUERTE!!!  Hard Rock!!!!

Rocafuerte will be Ecuador's representative in the Copa Libertadores Femenina. Ah doh know how they will make out with 12 players called for national duty, because the CFL starts on Wednesday and Roca is scheduled to play on the 5th, the 8th, and the 9th (here's the kicker ... in Sao Paulo, Brazil!).
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 31, 2014, 02:05:07 AM
Update

Ecuador is trying to find an opponent to scrimmage on Saturday. According to sources, they are actively looking, but have not secured a team to play yet.

Arauz, the coach, was in the US during the CONCACAF tourney and has video compilation of our games ... strengths/vulnerable areas. No surprise: they consider us fast, but not technical.

On Wednesday they had age group players in camp working with the NT players. Yesterday they did 2 sessions. Not verified, but the age group players were said to be as young as U-14.

Arauz has 4 new call ups in that squad of 22 ...Irene Tobar, Estefanía Riera, Kelly Vera and Mónica Quinteros (placed an asterisk by their names above for convenience) ... these players replace Génesis Casierra, Sofía Carchipulla, Inés Johnson and María Isabe (who all took part in the Copa America tourney).

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Arimaman on October 31, 2014, 07:00:52 AM
Looks like we calling up new players too.  Ivan Sampson's daughter Jasmine left for Mexico yesterday.....  Not sure who else got called in though.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: elan on October 31, 2014, 09:16:17 AM
Jasmine Sampson (http://www.ruhighlanders.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4486&path=wsoc)
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: dtool on October 31, 2014, 09:23:31 AM

How come no one from Howard U. was called up??????

Nia Walcott .......

http://hubison.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2334 

http://hubison.com/news/2014/10/24/WSOC_1024143831.aspx

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: maxg on October 31, 2014, 09:24:23 AM
Wish list: Can get another stopper and have King playing Central midfield with Johnson. I think Hutchinson could do it.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 31, 2014, 10:49:41 AM
Come December 2, when we prevail ... there will be a more structured approach to identifying potential WC participants. I don't doubt that.

Not everybody could be identified and transitioned into this Mexico City camp. However, it points to a call made several times ... there should be a liaison tracking players outside of the country.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Soccer 19 on October 31, 2014, 01:00:43 PM
Come December 2, when we prevail ... there will be a more structured approach to identifying potential WC participants. I don't doubt that.

Not everybody could be identified and transitioned into this Mexico City camp. However, it points to a call made several times ... there should be a liaison tracking players outside of the country.

Their is a liaison however on they flip side any Trini woman involved in high level footie should've already been contacting the team with their intentions.  When we qualify you will see every Trinnie with dual citizenship knocking on Randy's door to try and make the team.

Have a great camp ladies.


19
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 31, 2014, 02:17:55 PM
...

Not everybody could be identified and transitioned into this Mexico City camp. However, it points to a call made several times ... there should be a liaison tracking players outside of the country.

Their is a liaison however on they flip side any Trini woman involved in high level footie should've already been contacting the team with their intentions.  When we qualify you will see every Trinnie with dual citizenship knocking on Randy's door to try and make the team.

...

Who is the liaison?

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: dreamer on November 01, 2014, 09:05:39 AM
ALMOST THERE: T&T Women’s coach Randy Waldrum

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/TT-women-settle-in-Mexico-281146552.html

T&T women settle in Mexico
Story Created: Oct 31, 2014

Trinidad and Tobago’s senior women’s team had their first training session at the Training Centre (Centro de Capacitación, CECAP) in Mexico City yesterday.

Head coach Randy Waldrum conducted a training session which lasted for just over an hour as the team settled in following their arrival on Thursday night. The team is staying at the Fiesta Inn.

Team manager Vernetta Flanders said the players were in good spirits and focused on making full use of the training camp there before departing for Ecuador on November 5.

“The girls are in good spirits. The head coach had his first session earlier today and it’s been pretty decent for us here so far. I think the players are all focused on the task at hand. Some of them have been to Mexico before for previous international matches so it’s just a matter of getting in the preparations before we head to Ecuador in a few days,” Flanders said.

Skipper Maylee Attin-Johnson said she was quite pleased with the facilities.

“We have settled in really well. We are two hours behind so we are still trying to adjust to the time zone,” she told TTFA Media.

“Training went well this morning.  The altitude is a bit challenging but with the right attitude our body will get used to it leading into the Ecuador match.”

The players also received their allowances for the CONCACAF Championship which ended last week, as well as the Mexico training camp and the first leg in Ecuador, prior to their departure  on Thursday evening. The funding was provided by the Ministry of Sport. Aside from the T&T versus Ecuador playoff, Italy, Netherlands also defeated  Scotland 4-1 on aggregate this week and will now face Italy in another playoff  in November  for the final European ticket to Canada.

The Ivory Coast qualified  for the World Cup on Saturday with a goal six minutes from time to defeat South Africa 1-0 and finish third at the African championship in Windhoek, Namibia. For the Ivorians, it was a welcome reprieve after losing to Cameroon on a 118th-minute goal in the African semifinal.

Nigeria won the African championship for the ninth time with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon, who both qualified by reaching the final.

The official draw for the Women’s World Cup is scheduled for December 6 in Ottawa. The tournament will take place from June 6th to July 5th in Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Flex on November 02, 2014, 02:48:24 AM
$9,200 for Ecuador charter.
T&T Express Reports.


ANTHONY HARFORD’S All Sport Promotions is staging a charter to Ecuador for the first-leg of the World Cup qualifier between the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national football team and Ecuador on Saturday.

The charter caters for just 20 supporters and will see the touring party depart on Friday and return on November 10.

The package includes hotel accommodation (double occupancy), breakfast and a group dinner on the night of the match. The cost also includes a match ticket, airport transfers and a city tour.

Persons wishing to have a single hotel room will pay a further $650. Interested persons are asked to call  740- 9293 by noon on Wednesday.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Carib-Briton on November 02, 2014, 05:02:12 AM
Hope the stadium is ram for this one! Good luck girls :)
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: de_redman on November 03, 2014, 09:23:47 AM
What's the latest as it relates to the camp?
Any training matches played?
Any pics?
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Soccer 19 on November 03, 2014, 12:50:37 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXF7f1ajSI&feature=youtu.be


19
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Mose on November 03, 2014, 04:12:02 PM
Article features a picture of our women's team and info on the playoffs.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/women-s-world-cup-2015-field-nearly-set-1.2814733
Quote
Women's World Cup 2015 field nearly set
Only three places remain for next year's tournament

And then there were three.

Cameroon, Costa Rica, the Ivory Coast, Mexico, Nigeria and the U.S. have all qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015, leaving just three berths up for grabs for next summer's 24-team tournament.

The three remaining finalists will come from the winners of two separate playoffs and the Oceania championship
...
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on November 03, 2014, 07:17:02 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXF7f1ajSI&feature=youtu.be


19

Thanks ...

Also, when yuh have a minute, please fill in the blank above regarding the liaison question.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: de_redman on November 03, 2014, 07:35:43 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXF7f1ajSI&feature=youtu.be


19

:beermug:
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Sando prince on November 03, 2014, 08:22:10 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXF7f1ajSI&feature=youtu.be


19

https://www.youtube.com/v/lmXF7f1ajSI&feature=youtu.be
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Flex on November 05, 2014, 03:06:12 AM
Women Warriors leave for Ecuador today.
By Andrew Gioannetti (Guardian).


Today, three days before T&T faces Ecuador away from home in the first leg of a two-match 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup playoff, this country’s players and staff will arrive in Guayaquil, a city at sea level.

This comes after six days of high-altitude training in Mexico City, Mexico, where head coach Randy Waldrum and several support staff members, including a conditioning coach, team doctor, trainer and a massage therapist pooled their skills together to prepare the players for competition in Quito, Ecuador’s capital.

The match will be played at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa a 40,000-plus seater stadium, in the world’s highest official capital city. “We need to be at sea level for two days and then go back up to altitude, as this is what the science of altitude preparations tells us,” Waldrum explained in correspondence from Mexico, yesterday. “The science we are using with our conditioning coach is next level.

We are monitoring each player with heart rate monitors and such so we can keep an eye on each individual and how they are coping. The programme we have also tells us how many calories we are burning per session so our nutritionist can better refuel our athletes individually and collectively. We are leaving no stones unturned,” the Houston Dash and former T&T Under-17 women’s coach added.

The T&T Football Association (TTFA), Waldrum said, “has been great in providing us the necessary personnel required to qualify the team.” Regarding the fitness of individual players, some of whom lacked match fitness and carried knocks at the Concacaf Women’s Championship, Waldrum said he preferred to refrain from discussing such details close to the first leg match.

“Needless to say, many of whom were injured during the Concacaf tournament are getting healthier each day. I feel better about them playing in this first leg, so that is all good news.”

Asked if he was concerned that the college players, who weren’t made available for training in Mexico, may be unable to keep pace with the rest of the players in Ecuador, Waldrum responded: “The science tells us that if players cannot train in altitude, then the best way to cope with it is to come in 48-66 hours before the game and play close to time of arrival.” He said the US college-based players will meet the team by Friday.

Waldrum, who was named senior women’s team head coach in July, prior to his team’s championship win at T&T-hosted CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup, said he is grateful for the support his team has received over the past four months.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: dreamer on November 05, 2014, 11:02:36 AM
Proud of you lady warriors. Good job coach Randy.
Good luck and doh feel pressure playing fuh country. Just do your thing
and frighten the crap out of those Ecuadoreans whose fate will lie in the Final game, in T&T!
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: socalion on November 05, 2014, 04:53:31 PM
Trinidad  women   warriors win final warmup  6-0  before heading off to ecuador  ... !! nice to see they were in a game situation  prior to  saturday's game !!!...  Best wishes to the coaching staff  and the entire team  stay bless 
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Flex on November 05, 2014, 05:57:09 PM
T&T Women score 6-0 win in final warm up.
Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).


Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Women’s Team pulled off a 6-0 victory over the Marco Soccer Academy eleven in their closing warm-up game in Mexico City on Tuesday prior to their departure for Ecuador.

T&T got a first half goal from Tasha St Louis to go into half time with a slim advantage before taking full control in the second half. Ahkeela Mollon notched a double while Candice Edwards, Kennya Cordner and Dernelle Mascall added further items in the second half.

The T&T team arrived in Guayaquil on Wednesday and will journey to Quito on Friday ahead of the World Cup playoff away leg on Saturday.

T&T head coach Randy Waldrum said he was satisfied with the run of events during the training camp in Mexico City at the CECAP High Performance centre, which is one of three operation centres used by the Mexican Football Federation.

“It was a very useful exercise for us over the past few days,” Waldrum told TTFA Media. “The players were comfortable and we had access to excellent facilities.

“It was what we wanted here at altitude, a good run before going back down to sea level in Guayaquil ahead of the game back at altitude in Quito.”

Commenting on the match on Tuesday, he added.

“We got four goals just by applying the press we spoke of at half time and there could have been more goals for us. This is a good sign for us going into Ecuador.”

Mollon was also pleased with the team’s showing, saying “The subs gave us the spark we needed and it was good to see Tasha looking like the Tasha we are accustomed to and it was also a good chance to see the new additions to the squad."

The new additions to the squad include Candice Edwards, Jasmine Sampson and Iyesha Olliverre.

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: elan on November 06, 2014, 06:13:52 PM
Iyesha Ollivierre (http://www.concordiaclippers.com/sports/wsoc/2012-13/bios/ollivierre_iyesha_0a34)
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: elan on November 06, 2014, 06:18:47 PM
Not called up but,

Dennis Named Player Of The Year In CACC

(http://www.posteagles.com/images/2014/10/22/rp_primary_IMG_5263.JPG)


Waterbury, Conn. - Senior Renel Dennis (Queens, N.Y.) was named Player Of The Year and coach Matt Micros was named Coach of The Year as Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference awards were announced on Monday.

Dennis - who also was named to the All-CACC First Team -  finished the regular season with 16 goals and 36 points to lead the CACC. Dennis, who was injured most of last season scored three or more goals four times this season, including a four goal performance against Goldey-Beacom on September 20. She also scored three goals against Chestnut Hill (Sept. 13), Nyack (Sept. 30) and Bloomfield. She also added a postseason goal to her resume during Post's 3-0 win over Goldey-Beacom in the first round of the CACC Tournament.

Read More... (http://www.posteagles.com/news/2014/11/3/Dennis.aspx)
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Trini _2026 on November 07, 2014, 07:41:35 AM
Not called up but,

Dennis Named Player Of The Year In CACC

(http://www.posteagles.com/images/2014/10/22/rp_primary_IMG_5263.JPG)


Waterbury, Conn. - Senior Renel Dennis (Queens, N.Y.) was named Player Of The Year and coach Matt Micros was named Coach of The Year as Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference awards were announced on Monday.

Dennis - who also was named to the All-CACC First Team -  finished the regular season with 16 goals and 36 points to lead the CACC. Dennis, who was injured most of last season scored three or more goals four times this season, including a four goal performance against Goldey-Beacom on September 20. She also scored three goals against Chestnut Hill (Sept. 13), Nyack (Sept. 30) and Bloomfield. She also added a postseason goal to her resume during Post's 3-0 win over Goldey-Beacom in the first round of the CACC Tournament.

Read More... (http://www.posteagles.com/news/2014/11/3/Dennis.aspx)

Is she on the TTFA radar
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: asylumseeker on November 08, 2014, 04:09:58 AM
My Ecuadorean colleague tell me this morning that Atahualpa ent no easy place to play.
He played there before and he say is real licks if you ent accustom.
One possible good thing he say is dat de stadium may not be ram.

We have to make sure to ram out we home ground.

I would be surprised if it ram. Footage from the CONMEBOL qualifiers didn't reveal an overwhelming level of support.

This game is likely to be one of the last "big" events before things change. Earlier this year, the go ahead to modernize the stadium went through. After 60 plus years, iz a bit of a relic.

They modernized the airport fairly recently ... so the stadium would be a second major municipal project.
What's proposed is damn impressive.

https://www.youtube.com/v/S_GswORzm5Q
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Flex on December 04, 2014, 02:49:36 AM
Waldrum: Build going forward
...it will be a shame to just let it go
By Ian Prescott (Express).


AMERICAN Randy Waldrum has urged the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and THE Government to learn from past mistakes and not just let the national women’S football programme fall back into the obscurity from which it came, following the Women Warriors agonising failure to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’S World Cup.

The Soca Warriors lost a two-leg Inter-continental playoff 1-0 on aggregate against Ecuador for a spot in the World Cup. A highly-rated American coach of the women’s professional team Houston Dash, Waldrum donated his services for free in a bid to qualify T&T for a first appearance at a senior women’s World Cup.

As disappointed as he is, Waldrum said T&T’s women footballers had touched many hearts around the world. He called them a Cinderella team.

“We’ve developed some good momentum here and I don’t think we need to just stop and let it go,” Waldrum said. “The next step going forward to start to build on it. As disappointed as we are, it will be a shame to just let it go down and take a back seat once again. We can’t have that happen. We need to go forward.”

“I am really proud of the group, but extremely disappointed for them. Especially those older players, who have put so much into the game,” Waldrum added. “I think the future is bright. We have a lot of good upcoming talent like Anique Walker and the Debesette twins. But for those players who this might be their last opportunity, I feel very disappointed for them.”

Waldrum felt his team played well against Ecuador, whose game plan he said, was to sit and counter and take advantage of set plays. “The two areas that I am disappointed in is that as much as we had the ball, we did not create enough clear opportunities to create great shots on goal.

‘’We had a lot of services and crosses into the box, but we did not get the clear shots. The other thing, defensively, was giving up the foul late in the game. Those are things we addressed all week, that there was no need to foul a player out wide. We did and (as a result) we are not going to the World Cup.

“I think we were much better tonight that we were in Ecuador. We were much healthier than we were at CONCACAF,” Waldrum said. “We got three or four chances I thought we should have scored. We didn’t, and when you keep teams hanging around it happens.”

Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: King Deese on December 04, 2014, 09:06:59 PM
Saying it and doing it is such a different thing.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Socapro on December 05, 2014, 08:27:23 AM
Saying it and doing it is such a different thing.

He honestly believed in the team and that we would have qualified or he would not have given his services for free probably hoping that once we had qualified he would be taken care of.
Title: Re: Waldrum: We will qualify over Ecuador.
Post by: Trinitozbone on December 06, 2014, 02:08:52 PM
Who said services were for free? I read elsewhere that Sheldon Phillips made a bargain that he would be paid  later when the TTFA got sponsorship. We need to find out how much these fellas including Hart are being paid for doing little or nothing to develop our teams. Waldrun was doing two jobs , coaching team in Dallas and giving his son  to oversee when he has commitments. You mean we don't have coaches here who can fo the job? We need a part-time coach for our national team? This is insulting! it appears that the new gimmick is to search for players playing  at a higher level or in better organized and disciplined organizations and bring someone looking Caucasian hoping the local business sector will sponsor and you good to  go. But it has failed in both instances , God does not reward frauds!
People start thinking objectively. I see only praises for these coaches and licks for our own coaches like Shabazz, Marlon Charles and others. We have experienced people who are right here.
I was looking at a scrap book of the skipper of the Strike Squad and I saw an article where the Strike Squad was voted as one of the top 10 playing teams in the World in 1989. Style, rhythm , compactness, control , technical soundness all the elements of a great team , now that Waldrun has spoken highly of that team to take blame off him, let me hear what these glad boys on the website have to say!
We can't have pick up sides and expect to go to World Cup. It needs strong team leadership and vision , good administration, corporate and government sponsorship, real supportive fans not spectators.
Those of you who think we will qualify for the next World Cup with this  bunch of jokers, you all better think again and call for real changes and a serious approach! This is our resources being expended willy nilly. Do not be a bunch of wimps! Where is Lasana when we need him to ask the real questions and dig deeper into the mess we are in! Are we getting value for the money being spent??
Title: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: SWF Reporter on May 11, 2015, 08:50:46 PM
Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com)


Former Trinidad and Tobago National Women’s Senior Team head coach Randy Waldrum, who took the “Women Soca Warriors” to within one goal of a FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup place, allegedly found out about his rejection for the post through the media.

Last week, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee told the Trinidad Express that the football body decided against re-appointing the Texan, due to his inability to commit fully to the job of national head coach.

Waldrum is also the head coach for US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team Houston Dash.

“I would not like to excommunicate Randy from the coaching staff,” Tim Kee told Wired868, “but we have two tournaments around the corner and we don’t have the luxury of time… In my mind, he is not entirely out of it. But for this Olympic and Pan Am (tournaments), we have to make a serious decision going forward.”

Tim Kee suggested that he would consider re-hiring Waldrum in the future. But the coach was not thrilled at finding out about his rejection through the media.

“I have not been told anything other (than) being sent the (Express) article,” Waldrum told Wired868.

Tim Kee admitted that he only asked general secretary Sheldon Phillips to contact Waldrum on Saturday, after TTFA’s decision not to re-appoint him was already public.

And Phillips, according to Waldrum, sent him the URL for the Express article.

The football president suggested that Waldrum was partly responsible for the TTFA’s poor communication for supposedly failing to inform the football body of the extent of his club commitments.

“I have not (called Waldrum) but I asked the general secretary to give him a call… after the article was published,” said Tim Kee. “Randy and I had a long conversation (last year) about going forward but this thing with (Houston Dash) was never part of the conversation.

“I didn’t think I (should have) to call him and ask what is going on. He could have called me. I’m not making any excuse…”

However, the football president conceded that “it creates a problem for me too” when he learns about decisions through the media and insisted he did not mean to disrespect the Texan coach.

“I have huge respect for the relationship he was able to build with his players,” said Tim Kee. “There is no animosity or disrespect (towards him), (the decision) was just about having someone fill in for these two tournaments. I would probably call him tonight.”

For his part, Phillips said his interaction with Waldrum on Saturday was informal and not meant to be official confirmation of the TTFA’s decision.

“I only sent the article to Randy to ask whether he had seen it,” said Phillips. “Up until that point, as far as I knew, there had not been a final decision. I spoke to Randy again on Sunday about the decision although it was more of a chat.

“To be honest, the article had a tone of finality which wasn’t the case… It is just the schedule means he is unavailable for that period of time.”

Tim Kee said he will meet technical committee chairman Richard Quan Chan on Thursday to discuss potential head coaches for the National Under-20 and Senior Women’s Teams for the immediate future.

At present, St Ann’s Rangers women’s coach Jason Spence, who is the assistant coach for the under-20 and senior teams, has run combined sessions for the two squads with assistance from St Augustine Secondary coach Desiree Sargaent.

Tim Kee claimed that Waldrum declared himself unavailable for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and requested that assistant coach Jason Spence handle the team in his absence. He also supposedly requested that his son, Benjamin Waldrum, and an unnamed US-born physio be contracted by the TTFA.

Tim Kee said he balked at both suggestions although he revealed that Spence is now being considered for the post of National Under-20 Team head coach.

“My opinion is we have people here who I believe should be given an opportunity to be exposed at that level under a coach they can learn from,” said Tim Kee. “I don’t want to bring three or four coaches from abroad.

“I always believe in training people and having them as understudies… So I was thinking about the transference of knowledge.”

Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: Bakes on May 11, 2015, 09:55:39 PM
Madness.
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: elan on May 11, 2015, 10:35:07 PM
I have to take back my words on Waldrum blanking the TTFA  :-[ that I posted in that other thread.

What really going. Tim Kee needs to give up this post. His last couple of interviews comes of aloof. Why does everyone have to work with him, but he not working with anyone? I don't like the how he sounds in these interviews. He seems to be a real pr@#k.

 :banginghead:

Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: dreamer on May 12, 2015, 07:27:55 AM
Sickening disrespect and stupid attempt at damage control by Uncle Tim.
Well, that's the TTFA culture for you. Uncle Tim learnt well from Daddy Jackulito Renraw.
99% here recognize the systemic TTFA disease but a few like it so ... and probably need it to be so.
Lasana, watch yuh contents & careful how you report this stuff. Yuh treading on dangerous ground.
You could be in danger of being called "yuh f**ker".
Kelvin Jack, we need you soon.
Horner yuh agree this time?
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: FireBrand on May 12, 2015, 08:22:44 AM
The level of crassness and unprofessionalizm reported in that article is astounding. SMH
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: Sam on May 12, 2015, 08:32:56 AM
Tim Kee really have Jack traits.

And Sheldon is following closely, ah really disappointed in Sheldon, I expected more, Flex spoke highley of him once.

I dont undestand the unprofessional way and how is it benefiting them to run the TTFA this way?

Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: elan on May 12, 2015, 01:42:43 PM
Quote
The football president suggested that Waldrum was partly responsible for the TTFA’s poor communication for supposedly failing to inform the football body of the extent of his club commitments.

Quote
“I have not (called Waldrum) but I asked the general secretary to give him a call… after the article was published,” said Tim Kee. “Randy and I had a long conversation (last year) about going forward but this thing with (Houston Dash) was never part of the conversation.

Sometime earlier this year or late last year I posted that Waldrum last regular season game with the Dash was in September. Tim Kee......
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: lefty on May 12, 2015, 03:14:35 PM
old style "business man" right dey with d attitude...........but is d apparent and shocking lack of basic organization skills dat gettin me........dat fella didn' used to work clico............ :o ........... well dais probably not ah good argument in he favor dey...............lawd have mercy
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: Bakes on May 12, 2015, 04:04:22 PM
Needless to say I'm hearing a slightly different version of events, but not different enough to exonerate the FA from this latest self-inflicted injury.
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: elan on May 12, 2015, 09:46:09 PM
Needless to say I'm hearing a slightly different version of events, but not different enough to exonerate the FA from this latest self-inflicted injury.

I think Waldrum wanted to get his son in to gain some experience and develop a resume.
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: asylumseeker on May 13, 2015, 01:40:23 AM
One slap via Twitter begets a slap via The Express? Yuh live by the sword yuh die by the sword?
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: Sam on May 13, 2015, 04:58:22 AM
Waldrum son should be on this coaching staff.

Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: weary1969 on May 13, 2015, 09:08:16 AM
So the Rockets rebound I backing Clippers biggest Cinderella story since Cinderella.
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: MEP on May 13, 2015, 04:01:32 PM
Madness.
and in this pappyshow land everything is a pappyshow
watch how the dishonorable MoS go try to push one of his boys there
Title: Re: Waldrum discovered TTFA rejection through press; W/Warriors hunt new coach
Post by: Bakes on May 13, 2015, 05:27:11 PM
and in this pappyshow land everything is a pappyshow
watch how the dishonorable MoS go try to push one of his boys there


Yuh doh hand people big stone to pelt yuh with... unless yuh name is Raymond Tim Kee I guess.
Title: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Flex on October 23, 2015, 04:44:12 AM
Waldrum back with Women Warriors.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).


US-born coach Randy Waldrum had his fourth session with the Women Soca Warriors at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, yesterday since returning to T&T on Thursday last ahead of their Group Two Caribbean Football Union Women’s Olympic Qualifiers and Final Round series next month.

The Women Soca Warriors were due to host Group Two qualifiers against  St Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda and Cayman Islands, however, the latter two have pulled out, leaving T&T and St Lucia to contest a two-leg playoff series on November 13 and 15, to be played here in T&T.

The winner of the T&T/St Lucia tie will then qualify to the four-team CFU playoffs for which Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Guyana.

At the end of that four-team tournament, which is also set for T&T from November 18-20, the top three teams will advance to the eight-team Concacaf final round event from February 10-21 in Houston, USA next year, from which the top two finishers will qualify for the 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, August 3-20,

Waldrum, who coaches the Houston Dash in the US Women’s Professional League was last in charge of the women's team which came within a win of appearing at a first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada earlier this year, but fell at the last hurdle, 1-0 on aggregate to Ecuador in a continental playoff.

During his absence, the Women Soca Warriors who competed at the Pan American Games under coach Ross Russell who has since been appointed coach of Pro League champions Central FC have been under the supervision of assistant coach, Anthony Creece, a former national Olympic team midfielder and USA-based women’s coach,

During the preliminary Group One series, Puerto Rico earned nine points from three games, Haiti six , Grenada three and Aruba nil.

Puerto Rico blasted Grenada 12-0; Aruba 9-0 and edged Haiti 3-2. Haiti hammered Aruba 14-0 and Grenada 13-0 in their other matches, while Grenada blanked Aruba 2-0

In Group Three, Jamaica gained six points from two games, trouncing Dominican Republic 6-0 and Dominica 12-0 while in the other match, Dominican Republic clobbered Dominica 11-0.

And in Group Four, Guyana and Cuba ended up with four points each after they both swept aside St Kitts/Nevis (8-0) and (6-0) respectively, but Guyana had a better goal-difference than Cuba hence they advance to the final round while St Kitts/Nevis ended without a point.

Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on October 23, 2015, 07:39:53 AM
Any new players incorporated or merely rinse and recycle?
Title: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: Tallman on November 14, 2015, 10:28:37 AM
Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
By Jeff Kassouf (equalizersoccer.com)


When Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s national team takes the field on Friday as part of the 2016 Olympic qualification process, Randy Waldrum won’t be there.

Waldrum, who has coached Trinidad and Tobago for over a year on a voluntary basis, is back in Houston, Texas. Anthony Creece is the interim coach for Trinidad and Tobago for games against St. Lucia on Friday and Sunday — at the very least.

“To me, it just got to the point where I’m looking at it going, ‘they have to make some sort of commitment to the women’s program and make some sort of commitment to me,'” Waldrum told The Equalizer.

Recounting a long story of how he got this point, Waldrum explains that the bigger picture is the issue. Communication between the federation and the team’s coach has been irregular and unproductive, Waldrum said Friday. He was supposed to return to Trinidad to train the team in September, but that got pushed back to late October.

Waldrum went to Trinidad and faced logistical and travel issues while there due to changes within the federation. TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee fired general secretary Sheldon Phillips, but Phillips is back now — at least, for now — since Kee fired him without authority. This all went on while Waldrum tried to train a team which never had more than eight players at a single practice, he says.

The struggles are similar to the ones highly publicized last year before World Cup qualifying. Trinidad and Tobago came agonizingly close to making the Women’s World Cup for the first time, losing an intercontinental playoff to Ecuador in stoppage time of the second leg of the series in Trinidad.

Waldrum has worked for free through what he calls “a handshake agreement” with the TTFA. He says he isn’t even asking for money, just the authority to properly implement a plan for the next four years to get Trinidad and Tobago into the 2019 World Cup.

According to Waldrum, the federation sent him a plane ticket back to Trinidad on Monday at 11 p.m. Houston time. The flight was for Tuesday morning. And the kicker? Waldrum’s last name was spelled wrong (not the first time there has been an error on the plane ticket, he says).

Seeing the issue as never-ending and the scenario as a microcosm for bigger issues, Waldrum said he wasn’t going to come without getting something in writing that he is the team’s coach and he has some authority over to implement plans for staff and players.

But as of now, things are at a standstill with the federation. Players have been texting him wondering when he will come back, he said. And Trinidad and Tobago still has to get through a series of matches just to get to the final round of Olympic qualifying in February. Qualifying will be a longshot with only two spots available from CONCACAF.

Assuming Trinidad and Tobago beats St. Lucia this weekend, Guyana, Puerto Rico and a dangerous Jamaica team await later in the month. And T&T has a pair of games against the United States in December which could end up being very ugly if things don’t improve.

“I would’ve left a long time ago last year if it weren’t for the players,” Waldrum said. He wants to see the program move forward. He knows there is enough talent there to make Trinidad and Tobago more relevant regionally and nationally. But for now, there isn’t enough organization. Waldrum hasn’t heard back from Kee in days, as of Friday morning.

“Right now, I can’t even tell you what’s going on in camp. I’ve had no input.”
Title: Re: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: King Deese on November 14, 2015, 11:23:23 AM
Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
By Jeff Kassouf (equalizersoccer.com)


When Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s national team takes the field on Friday as part of the 2016 Olympic qualification process, Randy Waldrum won’t be there.

Waldrum, who has coached Trinidad and Tobago for over a year on a voluntary basis, is back in Houston, Texas. Anthony Creece is the interim coach for Trinidad and Tobago for games against St. Lucia on Friday and Sunday — at the very least.

“To me, it just got to the point where I’m looking at it going, ‘they have to make some sort of commitment to the women’s program and make some sort of commitment to me,'” Waldrum told The Equalizer.

Recounting a long story of how he got this point, Waldrum explains that the bigger picture is the issue. Communication between the federation and the team’s coach has been irregular and unproductive, Waldrum said Friday. He was supposed to return to Trinidad to train the team in September, but that got pushed back to late October.

Waldrum went to Trinidad and faced logistical and travel issues while there due to changes within the federation. TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee fired general secretary Sheldon Phillips, but Phillips is back now — at least, for now — since Kee fired him without authority. This all went on while Waldrum tried to train a team which never had more than eight players at a single practice, he says.

The struggles are similar to the ones highly publicized last year before World Cup qualifying. Trinidad and Tobago came agonizingly close to making the Women’s World Cup for the first time, losing an intercontinental playoff to Ecuador in stoppage time of the second leg of the series in Trinidad.

Waldrum has worked for free through what he calls “a handshake agreement” with the TTFA. He says he isn’t even asking for money, just the authority to properly implement a plan for the next four years to get Trinidad and Tobago into the 2019 World Cup.

According to Waldrum, the federation sent him a plane ticket back to Trinidad on Monday at 11 p.m. Houston time. The flight was for Tuesday morning. And the kicker? Waldrum’s last name was spelled wrong (not the first time there has been an error on the plane ticket, he says).

Seeing the issue as never-ending and the scenario as a microcosm for bigger issues, Waldrum said he wasn’t going to come without getting something in writing that he is the team’s coach and he has some authority over to implement plans for staff and players.

But as of now, things are at a standstill with the federation. Players have been texting him wondering when he will come back, he said. And Trinidad and Tobago still has to get through a series of matches just to get to the final round of Olympic qualifying in February. Qualifying will be a longshot with only two spots available from CONCACAF.

Assuming Trinidad and Tobago beats St. Lucia this weekend, Guyana, Puerto Rico and a dangerous Jamaica team await later in the month. And T&T has a pair of games against the United States in December which could end up being very ugly if things don’t improve.

“I would’ve left a long time ago last year if it weren’t for the players,” Waldrum said. He wants to see the program move forward. He knows there is enough talent there to make Trinidad and Tobago more relevant regionally and nationally. But for now, there isn’t enough organization. Waldrum hasn’t heard back from Kee in days, as of Friday morning.

“Right now, I can’t even tell you what’s going on in camp. I’ve had no input.”
:rotfl:
Title: Re: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: dreamer on November 14, 2015, 11:37:40 AM
Uncle Tim, you make me sick to the stomach.
Title: Re: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: asylumseeker on November 14, 2015, 02:10:42 PM
We should all sign a BIG condolence card and send it to Randy.
Title: Re: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: Sam on November 15, 2015, 08:44:49 AM
Somebody need to tell Randy that Sheldon was fired and never got back his job.

Tim Kee moving like a real jackass here.

Title: Re: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: SWF Reporter on November 15, 2015, 09:38:45 PM
W/Warriors coach sidelined; Waldrum wants chance to fix T&T women’s game
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)

Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team head coach Randy Waldrum must make do with following the “Women Soca Warriors” via newspaper reports and the social media, as poor communication and disorganisation within the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) left him on the sidelines.
Waldrum explained that the dismissal of TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips, who was instrumental in his hiring, had added to his uncertainty regarding the W/Warriors post. And now he wants an assurance about his job security before he returns to Trinidad.
The Texan, who coaches professional outfit Houston Dynamo, explained that he was supposed to return to Trinidad roughly three weeks ago to prepare the team for the ongoing Olympic qualifiers. But, instead, he was frustrated by intermittent communication with Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee and team manager Sharon O’Brien.
“It is the frustration of not doing things properly,” Waldrum told Wired868. “We are getting ready to play Olympic qualifiers and we are doing the same thing as the last World Cup campaign. This is no way to prepare…
“Last Sunday night, I emailed Tim Kee and said I still wasn’t being communicated with. And I said, moving forward, I need something in writing that says I will be here for the next cycle so I can prepare properly for the next World Cup.”
Waldrum, whose first national assignment in T&T came while Phillips’s father, Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, was technical director, conceded that his new yearn for job security was at least partially linked to Phillips’ dismissal.
“I wasn’t sure if, because Sheldon (Phillips) was dismissed, Mr Tim Kee wanted to keep me on board at all,” said Waldrum, who insisted Phillips was a great asset to him here. “So I asked Tim Kee if he planed to keep me and he said ‘absolutely’ but I still wasn’t being communicated with…
“I have no way of knowing if Tim Kee would be re-elected and if a new president would come in and replace me. I have no guarantees and have been doing this voluntary.
“So, I told him it is in our best interest that I don’t come back until I have an agreement in writing.”
Tim Kee, who sacked Phillips on 20 October 2015, will stand for re-election at the TTFA AGM on 29 November 2015.
But Waldrum conceded that the Women Warriors’ problems begun long before Phillips’ unceremonious and controversial exit. And he said that the national team had resorted to training with as little as seven players due to the despondence of the players since the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games in July.
“When I got back (to Trinidad) on October 16, I found that many of the players were so frustrated with how they had been treated that they had had stopped training,” Waldrum told Wired868. “Ayanna (Russell), (Dernelle) Mascall… I had to talk Patrice Superville into coming back to the team.
“We only had about seven players coming out to training and there is no way you can prepare for Olympic qualifiers and to play the United States with seven players. So the training was very poor because of that.
“I don’t know if we can even get all the players back… But I believe I can take care of this if I get the authority to do it.”
Read more: http://wired868.com/2015/11/15/wwarriors-coach-sidelined-waldrum-wants-chance-to-fix-tt-womens-game/
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Soccer 19 on November 16, 2015, 08:16:21 AM
Randy just want's a contract & he should get one. The team as well as his coaching staff should know that they will be taken care of by the TTFA for the next WWC cycle. The quicker a contract gets done the quicker he gets back & semblance of order will be restored. Time to have these open aired distractions over and done with.

http://wired868.com/2015/11/15/wwarriors-coach-sidelined-waldrum-wants-chance-to-fix-tt-womens-game/


19
Title: Re: Not with team, Waldrum in limbo as T&T coach
Post by: dreamer on November 16, 2015, 03:35:17 PM
Very very sad state of affairs and awful PR, almost like sabotage. Thanks for ability and the resolve to get info Lasana without anybody telling you what to write. Change will come .... eventually. Go Warriors!
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Flex on January 13, 2016, 02:53:28 AM
Waldrum fired as T&T women coach.
T&T Newsday Reports.


RANDY WALDRUM has. been fired as coach of the Trinidad and Tobago women football. team, according to a story on the local sporting website Wired868.

Waldrum disclosed his removal as coach in a letter to the website,. in which he admitted hurt that his four-year plan for the team will not materialise.

He wrote, “I was notified (yesterday) morning by the president (of the TT Football Association David John-Williams) of his decision to not retain me moving forward. It’s very disappointing personally, as I had a four-year plan to continue the growth and development of women’s football for the next cycle building on all we accomplished during the last World Cup qualifiers.

“I have volunteered my time and was willing to continue to do. so in order to see the players get the opportunity they so dearly deserve,” he added.

“Since this decision (yesterday), I have been reflecting on some of the great strides this team made over the past year. In spite of all that was not given to us to compete and prepare properly, this group of young women showed heart and character that not many teams have.”

Waldrum led the team during their ill-fated 2015 FIFA Women’s. World Cup qualifiers - which ended with a 1-0 loss at home to Ecuador on December 2 2014, as well as last month’s friendly international against the United States. “I want to take this time to personally thank all the people of Trinidad and Tobago for your unwavering support of me and (son, and assistant coach) Ben.

We both fell in love with your country and you took us in with open arms, and for that I am so appreciative.” He also expressed his gratitude to John-Williams predecessor Raymond Tim Kee and former TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips “for the opportunity they presented me with. I think they saw the vision of where we could go with women’s football, so a sincere thank you to both.” He continued, “I want to thank the staff there in Trinidad and Tobago that I worked alongside, and to the staff here in the States that helped us in trying to reach our goals.

“To the players who have given both Ben and I a lifetime of great memories, I thank you the most.

We all went through some difficult times, but in spite of it all you guys remained committed to the dream of qualifying for a major tournament, and growing the women’s game I’m so proud of each and every one of you, and I hope you all continue to grow the game in some way there in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Majestic on January 13, 2016, 07:30:08 AM
Latest with Creece?
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Flex on January 14, 2016, 02:56:02 AM
Women Warriors saddened by Waldrum’s sacking.
T&T Express Reports.


Head coach of the women’s senior national football team Randy Waldrum was given his marching orders by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Tuesday, and the decision has hit members of the “Women Warriors” particularly hard as the coach, who was a favourite among the team, parted ways with the squad.

Waldrum in his first stint with the team won the title in the first-ever Caribbean Cup, as well as taking them to the final qualification for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, culminating in a heart-breaking 1-0 defeat to Ecuador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The Texan returned to the fold in December to oversee the two-match series against the US Women’s team in Hawaii, and San Antonio, but did not travel with the team that played in the International Women’s Tournament in Natal, Brazil.

A couple of the players have been vocal in social media regarding the sudden exit of the coach, including Lauryn Hutchinson who shared her appreciation for the out-going coach.

“I’ve never met a man that had the capability of getting female athletes to respond the way Randy Waldrum did,” she said on Facebook. “I’ve never met a man that knew how to instill amazing structure the way Ben Waldrum did. This son and father were able to step into this programme and change the face of Women Soca Warriors forever.”

In another reaction on Facebook, Ahkeela Mollon was more philosophical. “Sometimes the best thing to do is find reasoning in any tough situation you are faced with in life.” she said.

In a TTFA media release yesterday, it was confirmed that Richard Hood would take over the national team, while warm-up matches in Costa Rica on January 25 and 27 have also been confirmed. Hood coached franchise team Boom Champions Fuego to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title last year.

The “Women Warriors” will soon resume training, as the final stage of the Olympic Women’s Qualifiers kick-off on February 11 in the USA, where the team will take on Guatemala, then Canada on February 14, and Guyana two days later.

Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on January 14, 2016, 07:35:37 AM
It would be a shame if other players fail to make public statements akin to the statement issued by Lauryn Hutchinson, even if they have done so privately to the outgoing coach. It would be a shame, but it won't be surprising. Respect the reality, but honour the past.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Sam on January 14, 2016, 09:45:17 AM
It would be a shame if other players fail to make public statements akin to the statement issued by Lauryn Hutchinson, even if they have done so privately to the outgoing coach. It would be a shame, but it won't be surprising. Respect the reality, but honour the past.

That wouldn't happen, de locals (apart from Maylee) doh have a voice, but they always first to complain in de back ground.

How come Maylee get dumb all of a sudden?

If Tim Kee did do this, all now we woulda hear all de shit coming out.

Wardrum is a big lost, de man really help us and even get money for us, but David John will not like him because Waldrum not fraid to say it in public and DJW like to keep everything on de down low.

Hood have de worst record in the pro league with Police.

Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: dreamer on January 14, 2016, 09:48:58 AM
Latest with Creece?

Stay far.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Tallman on January 14, 2016, 12:37:27 PM
WATCH: Maylee Attin-Johnson reacts to the dismissal of former Women’s Head Coach, Randy Waldrum.

https://www.youtube.com/v/KrdqTOcwl3M
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Tenorsaw on January 14, 2016, 08:12:54 PM
You replace a proven coach from a premier US women's collegiate institution with two NCAA titles for Notre Dame with a coach who can't even stand next to him.  This is the fear I had about John Williams.  I'd like to know the basis for his decision.  He then proceeds to install a bunch of recycled, obsolete coaches that the game has left behind as his technical committee.  Watch that technical committee go after Hart because of their xenophobia.  Smh
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: supporter on January 15, 2016, 01:27:34 PM
John Williams doenst know what he's doing. No clue.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Flex on January 16, 2016, 05:23:59 AM
Waldrum says goodbye to Women Warriors; Texan axed by TTFA.
By Wired868.com.


The following letter to the editor was sent to Wired868 by former Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team coach Randy Waldrum, who was officially relieved of his duties today by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams:

To the fans of women’s football in Trinidad and Tobago,

It’s with deep sadness that I must report that I am no longer the coach of the Women’s Soca Warriors.

I was notified this morning by the President of his decision to not retain me moving forward. It’s very disappointing personally, as I had a four year plan to continue the growth and development of women’s football for the next cycle building on all we accomplished during the last World Cup qualifiers.

I have volunteered my time and was willing to continue to do so in order to see the players get the opportunity they so dearly deserve.

Since this decision came this morning, I have been reflecting on some of the great strides this team made over the past year. In spite of all that was not given to us to compete and prepare properly, this group of young women showed heart and character that not many teams have.

Through the CONCACAF WC qualifiers where we played an amazing game against the eventual World Champions USA, to close matches versus Costa Rica and Mexico, this team fought as hard as any team I’ve ever been associated with.

We went in with no preparation or funding compared to the Concacaf powers that have everything they need to win, and we gave them every reason to fear Trinidad and Tobago.

I am still amazed and get teary eyed when I think about the drive to Hasely Crawford only to see people lined up along the streets waving and cheering as we drove by. Then to step on the field and see 20,000 plus people in the stands was incredible for women’s football!

We played a very attractive brand, and we saw our support grow from just 3,500 people who watched us win the CFU only several months earlier. We jumped 75 places in the FIFA rankings, which was the largest jump in history for any team!

We were clearly on the right path.

I want to take this time to personally thank all the people of Trinidad and Tobago for your unwavering support of me and Ben. We both fell in love with your country and you took us in with open arms, and for that I am so appreciative.

I cannot count how many of you have written to me personally, friended me on Facebook, and reached out to me personally after that game versus Ecuador. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to thank Mr Raymond Tim Kee and Sheldon Phillips for the opportunity they presented me with.  I think they saw the vision of where we could go with women’s football, so a sincere thank you to both.

Lastly and most importantly I want to thank the staff there in Trinidad and Tobago that I worked alongside, and to the staff here in the States that helped us in trying to reach our goals.

To the players who have given both Ben and I a lifetime of great memories, I thank you the most.

We all went through some difficult times, but in spite of it all you guys remained committed to the dream of qualifying for a major tournament, and growing the women’s game.

I’m so proud of each and every one of you, and I hope you all continue to grow the game in some way there in Trinidad and Tobago.

I will always be here for you, you remain deep in my heart and my thoughts, and I’ll be in Houston cheering you on from the stands as you all attempt to qualify for the Olympics in Rio. Ben will be alongside me as well, and just know that you made us very proud to be the national team coaches of the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Soca Warriors!

Women’s Soca Warriors Always,
Randy Waldrum


RELATED NEWS

TTFA axed Waldrum over slow paperwork; Hood tipped for W/Warriors post.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).


Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams confirmed this evening that the local football body decided to replace Randy Waldrum as Women’s National Senior Team head coach, due to the latter’s failure to meet a deadline for proposals for his plans with the team and the players he wanted for the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying series.

Waldrum, who is also the head coach of US professional women’s team Houston Dash, was informed this morning, by John-Williams, that the TTFA had decided to go in another direction.

The 54-year-old Texan coach, who was popular with the national players, took charge of the “Women Soca Warriors” in mid-2014 and led the team to the inaugural 2014 Caribbean title and the 2014 CONCACAF Championship semifinals before falling to Ecuador in a two-legged play off for a Canada 2015 World Cup berth.

Waldrum had pleaded for a chance to develop the local women’s game over the next four years, leading up to the France 2019 World Cup. However, his hopes were dashed this morning.

“Mr Williams let me know this morning that he will not use me again,” Waldrum told Wired868. “So I guess I am finished. I just want to say a big thank to you all the players and fans who have supported me ever since I got there…”

Waldrum said he was disappointed by the TTFA President’s decision but not surprised. John-Williams, according to the Texan, told him that he was considering bringing in a local coach from their first conversation, just hours after his appointment on Sunday November 29.

“I wasn’t really surprised (by my dismissal) because the very first time he took office he indicated he was thinking about changing things and going to a local coach,” said Waldrum. “But he said his mind wasn’t made up yet. This was even before the (international) games in Hawaii and San Antonio…

“And I was catching wind from people back in Trinidad, since then, that he was going in that direction.

“I am disappointed because I think we made a lot of strides in the first year that I came there. And I had ideas in mind to revamp all the national programmes over the next three year cycle.”

However, John-Williams said that the decision to change the Women Warriors coach was made over the last week, due to Waldrum’s failure to submit plans for his post. The proposal was supposedly meant to encompass the team’s programme for the next four years.

“I contacted Randy Waldrum (on Saturday January 2) and I asked him for a proposal by the Monday (January 4) on (his plans as coach) and the list of players he wanted to use,” John-Williams told Wired868. “We decided that he needed more time to check the schedules before he could be sure about the availability of the players. So I gave him until Wednesday (January 6) for that since it was the more difficult of the two.

“Neither deadline was met.”

The TTFA president said he met with his Executive Committee—which comprises of vice-presidents Ewing Davis, Joanne Salazar and Allan Warner—on Wednesday and they decided to relieve Waldrum of his post. This was relayed to the national women players in a meeting that same evening.

“The decision was based on his failure to submit documentation,” said John-Williams, who is also the former president and chairman of Pro League club, DIRECTV W Connection.

John-Williams said Waldrum emailed him the requested paperwork at 12.59 am on Thursday January 7, just hours after the TTFA told the Women Warriors that they would choose a new coach.

“On January 7 at 12.59 am, he (wrote) to me,” said John-Williams. “I responded to him at 2.54 am and said: Dear Randy. Thank you for your email which I received at 1 am this morning on the 7th of January 2016.

“I am disappointed to receive it so late…”

The TTFA President informed Waldrum that he would pass his proposal on to his Executive Committee and get back to him.

But the Executive Committee, according to Williams, decided to stick to its initial position and informed Waldrum today that it felt a local coach gave the Women Warriors the best chance of qualifying for the France 2019 World Cup.

Williams suggested that finances was one consideration in the TTFA’s decision. Although Waldrum was unpaid, he preferred to prepare the team in training camps near to his home in Houston.

It was a preference the coach justified in the past by pointing to the inadequate training facilities and conditions where they were previously housed in Trinidad.

Waldrum, according to the TTFA president, also indicated that he would miss national team practice to attend the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft on behalf of the Houston Dash on Friday January 15.

Last November, the coach had also ruled himself out of the Caribbean stage of the Women Warriors’ Olympic qualifiers and the responsibility fell to then assistant coach Anthony Creece. And Ross Russell deputised for Waldrum at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games last July.

John-Williams said those incidents were also taken into account by the TTFA Executive Committee before its final decision.

Waldrum declined comment on his late paperwork or the various reasons given for his dismissal.

John-Williams refused to officially reveal the new Women Warriors coach. But Wired868 understands that Police FC coach Richard Hood, a former national women’s coach who led Fuego to the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) title last year, is favoured to replace Waldrum.

Ironically, four years ago, Hood was in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team for the London 2012 Olympic qualifying series. They were eliminated in the Caribbean phase, after a 1-0 loss to the Dominican Republic.

However, his unfancied Police FC team are second in the Pro League at the moment ahead of former title winners like defending champions Central FC, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh.

Prior to taking office, John-Williams vowed that he would not get involved in the hiring and firing of coaches but will leave such duties to the appropriately appointed TTFA committees.

The TTFA does not have a Technical Committee in place at present but John-Williams said it will officially announce the members for that committee tomorrow.

So, should John-Williams and his ExCo have waited another day or two and allowed the TTFA Technical Committee to decide who it wanted as Women Warriors coach?

“I do not think so,” said John-Williams. “I was under pressure to make a decision and I didn’t have time to wait…

“The women have to be in training. They (should) start training on Thursday (January 14) but I had wanted them to start training on Monday (January 10).”

Trinidad and Tobago opens the CONCACAF leg of its Olympic qualifying series on February 11 against Guatemala. The Women Warriors will then face Canada and Guyana on February 14 and 16 respectively.

The top two Group B nations will advance to the semifinal round with just two CONCACAF nations advancing to Rio. Group A comprises of Mexico, Costa Rica and World Cup champions and host nation, the United States.

Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Soccer 19 on March 23, 2016, 11:19:30 AM
See Randy Waldrum's recent interview with Women's Soccer United.
He was very complimentary about his time with the Warrior Women.
Class act !!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/randy-waldrum-interview/


19
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: Sando prince on March 29, 2016, 11:04:45 PM
See Randy Waldrum's recent interview with Women's Soccer United.
He was very complimentary about his time with the Warrior Women.
Class act !!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/randy-waldrum-interview/


19

Thanks for posting this
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: maxg on October 08, 2019, 07:41:08 PM
Waldrum says goodbye to Women Warriors; Texan axed by TTFA.
By Wired868.com.


The following letter to the editor was sent to Wired868 by former Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team coach Randy Waldrum, who was officially relieved of his duties today by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams:

To the fans of women’s football in Trinidad and Tobago,

It’s with deep sadness that I must report that I am no longer the coach of the Women’s Soca Warriors.

I was notified this morning by the President of his decision to not retain me moving forward. It’s very disappointing personally, as I had a four year plan to continue the growth and development of women’s football for the next cycle building on all we accomplished during the last World Cup qualifiers.

I have volunteered my time and was willing to continue to do so in order to see the players get the opportunity they so dearly deserve.

Since this decision came this morning, I have been reflecting on some of the great strides this team made over the past year. In spite of all that was not given to us to compete and prepare properly, this group of young women showed heart and character that not many teams have.

Through the CONCACAF WC qualifiers where we played an amazing game against the eventual World Champions USA, to close matches versus Costa Rica and Mexico, this team fought as hard as any team I’ve ever been associated with.

We went in with no preparation or funding compared to the Concacaf powers that have everything they need to win, and we gave them every reason to fear Trinidad and Tobago.

I am still amazed and get teary eyed when I think about the drive to Hasely Crawford only to see people lined up along the streets waving and cheering as we drove by. Then to step on the field and see 20,000 plus people in the stands was incredible for women’s football!

We played a very attractive brand, and we saw our support grow from just 3,500 people who watched us win the CFU only several months earlier. We jumped 75 places in the FIFA rankings, which was the largest jump in history for any team!

We were clearly on the right path.

I want to take this time to personally thank all the people of Trinidad and Tobago for your unwavering support of me and Ben. We both fell in love with your country and you took us in with open arms, and for that I am so appreciative.

I cannot count how many of you have written to me personally, friended me on Facebook, and reached out to me personally after that game versus Ecuador. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to thank Mr Raymond Tim Kee and Sheldon Phillips for the opportunity they presented me with.  I think they saw the vision of where we could go with women’s football, so a sincere thank you to both.

Lastly and most importantly I want to thank the staff there in Trinidad and Tobago that I worked alongside, and to the staff here in the States that helped us in trying to reach our goals.

To the players who have given both Ben and I a lifetime of great memories, I thank you the most.

We all went through some difficult times, but in spite of it all you guys remained committed to the dream of qualifying for a major tournament, and growing the women’s game.

I’m so proud of each and every one of you, and I hope you all continue to grow the game in some way there in Trinidad and Tobago.

I will always be here for you, you remain deep in my heart and my thoughts, and I’ll be in Houston cheering you on from the stands as you all attempt to qualify for the Olympics in Rio. Ben will be alongside me as well, and just know that you made us very proud to be the national team coaches of the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Soca Warriors!

Women’s Soca Warriors Always,
Randy Waldrum


RELATED NEWS

TTFA axed Waldrum over slow paperwork; Hood tipped for W/Warriors post.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).


Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams confirmed this evening that the local football body decided to replace Randy Waldrum as Women’s National Senior Team head coach, due to the latter’s failure to meet a deadline for proposals for his plans with the team and the players he wanted for the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying series.

Waldrum, who is also the head coach of US professional women’s team Houston Dash, was informed this morning, by John-Williams, that the TTFA had decided to go in another direction.

The 54-year-old Texan coach, who was popular with the national players, took charge of the “Women Soca Warriors” in mid-2014 and led the team to the inaugural 2014 Caribbean title and the 2014 CONCACAF Championship semifinals before falling to Ecuador in a two-legged play off for a Canada 2015 World Cup berth.

Waldrum had pleaded for a chance to develop the local women’s game over the next four years, leading up to the France 2019 World Cup. However, his hopes were dashed this morning.

“Mr Williams let me know this morning that he will not use me again,” Waldrum told Wired868. “So I guess I am finished. I just want to say a big thank to you all the players and fans who have supported me ever since I got there…”

Waldrum said he was disappointed by the TTFA President’s decision but not surprised. John-Williams, according to the Texan, told him that he was considering bringing in a local coach from their first conversation, just hours after his appointment on Sunday November 29.

“I wasn’t really surprised (by my dismissal) because the very first time he took office he indicated he was thinking about changing things and going to a local coach,” said Waldrum. “But he said his mind wasn’t made up yet. This was even before the (international) games in Hawaii and San Antonio…

“And I was catching wind from people back in Trinidad, since then, that he was going in that direction.

“I am disappointed because I think we made a lot of strides in the first year that I came there. And I had ideas in mind to revamp all the national programmes over the next three year cycle.”

However, John-Williams said that the decision to change the Women Warriors coach was made over the last week, due to Waldrum’s failure to submit plans for his post. The proposal was supposedly meant to encompass the team’s programme for the next four years.

“I contacted Randy Waldrum (on Saturday January 2) and I asked him for a proposal by the Monday (January 4) on (his plans as coach) and the list of players he wanted to use,” John-Williams told Wired868. “We decided that he needed more time to check the schedules before he could be sure about the availability of the players. So I gave him until Wednesday (January 6) for that since it was the more difficult of the two.

“Neither deadline was met.”

The TTFA president said he met with his Executive Committee—which comprises of vice-presidents Ewing Davis, Joanne Salazar and Allan Warner—on Wednesday and they decided to relieve Waldrum of his post. This was relayed to the national women players in a meeting that same evening.

“The decision was based on his failure to submit documentation,” said John-Williams, who is also the former president and chairman of Pro League club, DIRECTV W Connection.

John-Williams said Waldrum emailed him the requested paperwork at 12.59 am on Thursday January 7, just hours after the TTFA told the Women Warriors that they would choose a new coach.

“On January 7 at 12.59 am, he (wrote) to me,” said John-Williams. “I responded to him at 2.54 am and said: Dear Randy. Thank you for your email which I received at 1 am this morning on the 7th of January 2016.

“I am disappointed to receive it so late…”

The TTFA President informed Waldrum that he would pass his proposal on to his Executive Committee and get back to him.

But the Executive Committee, according to Williams, decided to stick to its initial position and informed Waldrum today that it felt a local coach gave the Women Warriors the best chance of qualifying for the France 2019 World Cup.

Williams suggested that finances was one consideration in the TTFA’s decision. Although Waldrum was unpaid, he preferred to prepare the team in training camps near to his home in Houston.

It was a preference the coach justified in the past by pointing to the inadequate training facilities and conditions where they were previously housed in Trinidad.

Waldrum, according to the TTFA president, also indicated that he would miss national team practice to attend the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft on behalf of the Houston Dash on Friday January 15.

Last November, the coach had also ruled himself out of the Caribbean stage of the Women Warriors’ Olympic qualifiers and the responsibility fell to then assistant coach Anthony Creece. And Ross Russell deputised for Waldrum at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games last July.

John-Williams said those incidents were also taken into account by the TTFA Executive Committee before its final decision.

Waldrum declined comment on his late paperwork or the various reasons given for his dismissal.

John-Williams refused to officially reveal the new Women Warriors coach. But Wired868 understands that Police FC coach Richard Hood, a former national women’s coach who led Fuego to the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) title last year, is favoured to replace Waldrum.

Ironically, four years ago, Hood was in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team for the London 2012 Olympic qualifying series. They were eliminated in the Caribbean phase, after a 1-0 loss to the Dominican Republic.

However, his unfancied Police FC team are second in the Pro League at the moment ahead of former title winners like defending champions Central FC, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh.

Prior to taking office, John-Williams vowed that he would not get involved in the hiring and firing of coaches but will leave such duties to the appropriately appointed TTFA committees.

The TTFA does not have a Technical Committee in place at present but John-Williams said it will officially announce the members for that committee tomorrow.

So, should John-Williams and his ExCo have waited another day or two and allowed the TTFA Technical Committee to decide who it wanted as Women Warriors coach?

“I do not think so,” said John-Williams. “I was under pressure to make a decision and I didn’t have time to wait…

“The women have to be in training. They (should) start training on Thursday (January 14) but I had wanted them to start training on Monday (January 10).”

Trinidad and Tobago opens the CONCACAF leg of its Olympic qualifying series on February 11 against Guatemala. The Women Warriors will then face Canada and Guyana on February 14 and 16 respectively.

The top two Group B nations will advance to the semifinal round with just two CONCACAF nations advancing to Rio. Group A comprises of Mexico, Costa Rica and World Cup champions and host nation, the United States.


Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: soccerman on October 09, 2019, 07:29:37 AM
Maxg like yuh reminiscing. De man fail to submit his paperwork on time and therefore was not compliant so he had to show him who was boss. Plus we have local coaches that can get the job done and a new HOF facility where "you can bring wifey...." Progress!
But the Executive Committee, according to Williams, decided to stick to its initial position and informed Waldrum today that it felt a local coach gave the Women Warriors the best chance of qualifying for the France 2019 World Cup.

Williams suggested that finances was one consideration in the TTFA’s decision. Although Waldrum was unpaid, he preferred to prepare the team in training camps near to his home in Houston.

It was a preference the coach justified in the past by pointing to the inadequate training facilities and conditions where they were previously housed in Trinidad.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: pull stones on October 10, 2019, 12:01:12 AM
Serves them right. that big fat dummy shot himself in the foot multiple times and now it will cost him his presidency. that wanker single handedly demolished TT football from A to Z without even trying. we have not qualified for nothing under his tenure, not under 15 boys and girls under 17 and senior men’s and women not one single accomplishment. I hope the local jackasses who gave him the nod are now broke and destitute from their knuckleheaded decision.
Title: Waldrum looks back on T&T's 'golden generation'
Post by: Tallman on May 03, 2020, 09:55:07 AM
Waldrum looks back on T&T's 'golden generation'
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)


TIME brings perspective. Reflection brings clarity.

Such was the sentiment shared by former national women’s football coach, American Randy Waldrum, during his recent reminisce of what he considers “the golden year of women’s football in T&T”.

The 63-year-old served at the helm of T&T senior women’s football team for 18 months (July 2014 – January 2016) and took the squad on its most impressive run in local history – to the cusp of qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

To many, this may seem a mediocre benchmark for acknowledgement. But for the Women Soca Warriors, it was the painful culmination of months of hard work and their ability to maintain a positive mindset amidst an array of financial shortcomings, administrative blunders and injuries, which rallied the national unit to the verge of its World Cup debut.

After just two months in charge, Waldrum led T&T to the inaugural Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Caribbean Cup title with a 1-0 victory over regional rivals Jamaica. This crucial win qualified the Maylee Attin-Johnson-captained squad to the 2014 Concacaf Women’s Championship, which also served as a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier.

With only the top three nations guaranteed qualification, T&T were grouped with behemoths and hosts the USA, Guatemala and Haiti while Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Martinique completed the other group.

One week prior (October 8) to the championships, the Women Warriors flew to the US for a pre-training camp. Upon their arrival at around midnight, striker Kenya “Yaya” Cordner telephoned Waldrum to inform him there was no catered transportation from the airport, no manager, no equipment and their total finances amounted to approximately US$500.

A bamboozled but concerned Waldrum, the very next day, 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 the following morning, the team received over US$10,000 in an account set up by Waldrum and an overflow of donated food and drinks.

However, the coach’s open request was seen as an insult by many within the local football fraternity. Amidst the controversy, T&T lost its opening match against USA 1-0, beat Haiti 1-0 and then advanced to the ‘semis’ after defeating Guatemala 2-1.

T&T then held Costa Rica to a 0-0 result after regulation time but then lost 3-0 via kicks from the penalty spot and were forced to contest the third-place playoff against giants, Mexico, for the final automatic World Cup qualifier spot.

T&T lost this meeting 4-2, missing out on immediate qualification, but was lucky enough to salvage a home-and-away playoff against Ecuador (third-placed team of the 2014 Copa Americana Feminina) for the region’s final World Cup place.

Under the guidance of Waldrum and his son, Ben, T&T salvaged a worthy 0-0 result in the opening match at extreme altitude in Quito. For the second leg at a sold-out Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, a crucial defensive error in the first minute of second-half stoppage-time resulted in a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat (courtesy a header from Monica Quinteros) which ended the Warriors’ fairy tale run and hopes of a World Cup debut. A scene that was all too familiar of November 19, 1989!

Newsday recently made contact with coach Waldrum who expressed his willingness to relive the scenes before, during and after T&T’s historic but unsettling competitive campaign. The new University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team coach touched on several highlights and obstacles faced during his short but inspirational tenure.

PRE-CONCACAF CHAMPIONSHIPS

“We did not have the entire team together until two days before we played the US in the opening qualification (Championships). People who don’t understand football, don’t understand how difficult that is. We were going up against a USA team that had been in training two years in advance,” he said.

Concerning the tweet and its unexpected repercussions, Waldrum explained, “I felt a responsibility to take care of these players. That’s why I reached out. I do apologise to anyone in TTFA that took it the wrong way. The intent was not to make them look bad. I didn’t think about the repercussions to the TTFA, the intent was to feed, transport and take care of them. That situation though brought togetherness within the team. It strengthened us.

“As a staff, we did really well scouting and putting presentations together to have the players prepare for the opponent. From what we gathered – and this was coming from the players – the wealth of information we were giving them was something they had never received before with any of their national team coaches,” the veteran coach revealed.

“One day, I put up an animation (of a team formation) in a scouting report of the opposition and player movements, you could actually see the animation and the movements, and they were blown away like they had not seen any technology in that way. It is crucial though, that teams have a clear understanding of what exactly is a game model and what role they possess in it.”

ECUADOR FIRST-LEG (NOVEMBER 8, 2014), QUITO

After the Concacaf Championships, the team travelled to Mexico to acclimatise playing at altitude. However, time spent there was nothing compared to competing at 2.782 metres above sea level in Quito.

“I remember when I got up to walk out to the side-line (Quito) to give an instruction I would get light-headed because the altitude was so bad. To see those players play 90 minutes at that altitude, survive and not give up is beyond commendable. Tasha St. Louis collapsed on the field while Rhea Belgrave collapsed in the locker room due to altitude poisoning. Luckily, we had Dr Tonya Welch with the team. By that time, everyone had already left the stadium and there was no one there to help us get an ambulance or medical attention. In the end, Dr Welch saved the day.”

D-DAY – SECOND LEG (DECEMBER 4), HASELY CRAWFORD STADIUM

“Months earlier, there was little support. To see a country rally around their team in a few short months, from a handful of supporters to over 20,000 plus in November. To see how that team captured the country and how they supported made me take my phone out before the match and videotape the atmosphere. It gave me goosebumps,” said the two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association title-winning coach.

Although T&T dominated the match for most parts, they were unable to capitalise on their chances. In the 19th minute, Cordner headed wide St. Louis’ cross atop the six-yard box. Into the second period, Cordner seemed on course but struck the upright after latching on to a precise Ahkeela Mollon cross. The more T&T pressed, the more Ecuador showed resistance.

Into injury time, however, the visitors were awarded a game-changing free-kick. As it was struck, Ecuador’s striker Quinteros’ timely touch directed the strike past T&T custodian, Kimika Forbes, who was caught off her line chasing the ball. T&T wept.

“It was a huge disappointment,” said Waldrum. “I can’t even describe it, the feeling at that moment because we were so close. I thought we were the better side and we even hit the post a couple times. We had our chances but also had to take the responsibility for missing some opportunities as well.”

He continued, “As the clock was winding down, our mind was really on preparing for penalties and the fluke free-kick, the way it went in!” Waldrum sighed, looked away from the video call camera and eyes seemed a bit more liquefied than previously.

“As soon as that goal scored, I don’t think I’ve ever had a more disappointing moment and empty feeling in all of the years I’ve been in football.”

POST WORLD CUP QUALIFIER ELIMINATION

In a strange turn of events one month later (January 2016), Waldrum was fired by then, newly-appointed (November 30, 2015) TTFA president David John-Williams due to the coach’s “failure to submit plans for his post.” The proposal was supposedly meant to encompass the team’s programme for the next four years.

John-Williams said he contacted Waldrum on January 2 and asked him for a proposal by January 4 on his plans as a coach and the list of players he wanted to use.

“We decided that he needed more time to check the schedules before he could be sure about the availability of the players. So I gave him until Wednesday (January 6) for that since it was the more difficult of the two. Neither deadline was met. The decision was based on his failure to submit documentation,” said John-Williams in a wired868.com report.

It must be known, however, that Waldrum endured this journey as a volunteer and was not paid as a coach. Two days later, the American coach penned an emotional departing letter to his now-former teammates.

“This was T&T’s golden generation of women’s footballers,” he said in the recent interview. “What I’ve seen before (his tenure) and what I’ve seen after, to me, that to me was the peak of quality women’s football in T&T. Looking back, maybe me being a coach who fought for what these young women deserved, cost me in the end. Unfortunately, it was just the state of where women’s football was with the federation and continues to be.”

He added, “That group of players really epitomised the Women Soca Warriors. They really are warriors because a lot of people don’t know the stories behind the scenes. Those players went through so much difficulty in just trying to prepare. You don’t know what would have happened. You would have hoped that if we qualified, it could have been a springboard for women’s football. But then I go back and look at where it is and what’s going on in the country now, I don’t know if it would have changed anything.”

DID YOU HAVE PLANS IN PLACE?

“Sheldon Phillips, Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, Ben and myself had put together a ten-year plan based on this World Cup qualification for 2023. We realised our real future lay in the seven or eight-year-old players playing in T&T back then. If you look at it now, five years later, those young kids could have now been T&T’s Under-15 and Under-17s and we would have kept doing development.”

Waldrum believes if the TTFA had accepted his plan, women’s football would have been in a much better place in T&T presently. “That was what was the most disappointing to me, that we weren’t able to implement a long-term plan going forward. We had all laid out to develop youth soccer in different zones and in Tobago. A well-planned out programme for the future, getting T&T to the point where the programme automatically qualifies all the teams. Had we carried the plan out in 2015, women’s football would be in a good place today. Now it’s right back where it was.”

“I just watched the Under-20s still do quite well in their qualifiers (2019) even though they lacked preparation to get out of their group. Realistically, everybody involved would tell you the same thing. There was no preparation, the selection process was difficult, getting visas and other necessities were difficult; all those things that should be done in a professional way, those things need to change for the football to get better. There’s no progress made and it seems there’s no one with a willingness and vision. I am yet to see T&T unveil any plans for 2023 World Cup qualification.”

LOOKING BACK…POSSIBLE RETURN???

“T&T is my adopted country. I love it there, I love the people and still have the passion for it. I would come back in a heartbeat. There’s no lack of players not wanting to play but when they get let down and things get treated unprofessionally, they are hurt. I would want to come back with a longer-term plan in place. In 2015, I didn’t even have a contract and was volunteering. I don’t want to come in just to take a team through qualification or just before an event, where you have no chance of really succeeding.

“I think the TTFA has to go beyond waiting to two or three weeks before an event to now try and put a together to qualify for a major international event. Being part of a long term plan will give the girls a real chance, time to prepare and a real chance of making that World Cup dream come through. I would love to come back. We still have a legitimate amount of time to properly prepare the team. T&T, however, needs to get its act together, especially with the current crisis facing the local administration with FIFA currently. I keep abreast of T&T football because I want to return. The talent this country has is immense, but plans need to be put in place,” he concluded.

Waldrum also credited father and son football administrators, Lincoln and Sheldon, the late Raymond Tim Kee and every player, staff member and parent who were a part of his initiative to elevate women’s football in T&T.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on November 05, 2020, 08:22:34 AM
Waldrum's recent appointment by Nigeria is an undeniable indictment of the ignorance presented as reason under David John-Williams.

Beyond the appointment, there are also lessons in its handling (some to be modelled, others not) for administrators in the management of appointments, transparency in selection and regarding precision of contractual terms.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: maxg on November 05, 2020, 10:51:05 AM
Waldrum's recent appointment by Nigeria is an undeniable indictment of the ignorance presented as reason under David John-Williams.

Beyond the appointment, there are also lessons in its handling (some to be modelled, others not) for administrators in the management of appointments, transparency in selection and regarding precision of contractual terms.
https://ghanasoccernet.com/randy-waldrum-can-make-nigerias-super-falcons-stronger-and-smarter


There goes our 10 year plan.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: kounty on July 11, 2023, 07:34:07 AM
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/11/anger-and-recrimination-as-nigerias-world-cup-preparations-unravel (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/11/anger-and-recrimination-as-nigerias-world-cup-preparations-unravel)
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: soccerman on July 21, 2023, 12:27:58 AM
He coached Nigeria to a draw against Canada. Ever since him and SH were terminated both programs significantly declined.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on July 21, 2023, 03:17:07 AM
He coached Nigeria to a draw against Canada. Ever since him and SH were terminated both programs significantly declined.

Learning does occur, then?! :)
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: soccerman on July 21, 2023, 10:50:28 AM
Seeker 100%. Although Canada was the superior team, he had Nigeria well organized throughout the game and they had some luck on their side. Our women's program was going through that same learning phase as well.
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on July 28, 2023, 06:33:40 AM
Nigeria keeps chugging along, but what in the blazes is Haiti doing!!!!

I've seen some naive football at this WC. I've seen some dunce football at this WC. But, what the hell is Haiti doing versus China?
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: maxg on July 29, 2023, 11:28:07 AM
About planning and development
See article above
Title: Re: Randy Waldrum Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on August 07, 2023, 04:30:44 AM
How Nigeria gifted England passage to the quarterfinals: Particularly disappointed by insistent aerial service to 2 v 5 + GK, numbers down, with no players joining late, repeat and rinse. Not impressed by that. Steups, especially when the template for success was proven as a threat in the initial stages when you were "man to man" and your team eventually gained a "man advantage". Solve the puzzle in 120' or at least make a credible attempt to do so, not pursue a lukewarm hedge in which you also play more slowly and actually accommodate or nullify the "man advantage". Not impressed.

Moreover, there was nothing in the approach to the penalties that justified the above. Big steups.
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