Staff Writer – Archi
Sports news. Trinidad and Tobago women’s national soccer team coach Randy Waldrum had to assume the unexpected role of emergency fundraiser. Waldrum, also head coach of the NWSL’s Houston Dash, sent out an urgent plea on Twitter on Wednesday morning.
“I need HELP! Trinidad and Tobago sent a team here last night with 0 total. No equipment such as balls, no transportation from airport to hotel, nothing”’ the post read.
He went on to ask for help for the team, which is in Dallas training for the upcoming CONCACAF championship, a qualifying event for the women’s World Cup next year. The website KeeperNotes.com set up a PayPal account to help raise money.
Jen Cooper, who runs KeeperNotes in addition to hosting a soccer-related radio show in Houston and serving as half of the Dash’s broadcast team, quickly reached out to Waldrum when she saw the tweet.
By Wednesday afternoon, the account had reached more than ,000 and additional donations were pouring in.
“Frankly, as someone who has been part of the women’s soccer community for many years, I’m not surprised that people are responding,”’ Cooper said.
Randy Waldrum. Photo courtesy www.houstondynamo.com
The Trinidad and Tobago national team released a statement that said the country’s Ministry of Sport and sponsor Petrotrin were releasing additional funds to help support the team.
Trinidad and Tobago opens the tournament against the top-ranked United States next Wednesday in Kansas City, Kansas. The tournament is being played in four US cities with the finals set for October 26 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The top three finishers among the eight teams at the CONCACAF championships will earn spots in next year’s World Cup in Canada.
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