When Randy Waldrum agreed to coach the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team on an unpaid basis, he knew that resources, facilities and equipment would be an issue. It was not his first time working with the Federation so he had first hand experience of the challenges in coaching in a less developed nation.

Waldrum could not have anticipated, however, the situation he found himself in as his team prepared to head to the United States for World Cup Qualifying. Despite the fact that Trinidad and Tobago won the Caribbean Championship, the team could not get off the ground to head to its training camp in Dallas as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association could not fund the $40,000 necessary to pay for visa applications for team members.

Nearly four days after the team’s originally planned departure for the United States, funding finally came through and the team was able to get the visa’s and head to Dallas for a week of training prior to facing the United States on October 15th in Kansas City.

That was only the beginning of Coach Waldrum’s challenges, however. The team arrived in Dallas on Tuesday night with only $500, no equipment and no transportation. At a time when he should be focused on getting the team ready for World Cup Qualifying, Waldrum instead finds himself having to figure out how to feed and train the team. As a result, he sent out a plea via Twitter this morning.

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. — Randy Waldrum (@CoachWaldrum) October 8, 2014

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 — Randy Waldrum (@CoachWaldrum) October 8, 2014

Word spread fast through the Twitterverse, and once again the soccer community has shown how great it is with many offers of help pouring in as individuals like Grant Wahl, Sarah Gehrke and Meg Linehan spread the word.

A crowd sourcing option is being established to help support the Soca Princesses. As soon as it is officially up, we will retweet the link and add it here. We encourage anyone who can help to do so either through the crowd sourcing option or, if they are in an area nearby Dallas where they can provide equipment, food or other help, to please do so. You can contact Randy Waldrum through his Twitter where he has provided email info as well for those who can help out.

UPDATED

FC Dallas is hosting a friendly tomorrow night (October 9th) between the Trinidad and Tobago women and FCD ECNL at 8pm. Tickets cost $10 with proceeds to benefit the Trinidad and Tobago women’s team. Location is Dr. Pink Field #2 just outside the FC Dallas stadium in Frisco. Go if you can, great chance to see the Trinidad and Tobago women before they play against the United States next week.

Our good friends at The Keeper Notes have gotten a Paypal account for donations established. You can find the link here.