1. What’s your most memorable moment or match, whether for country or Club?
Taking Birmingham City to the Premiership. Scoring the hattrick against Colombia in Miami. Scorer the winner over Honduras in memory of Mickey, very emotional time for me. When I won the MLS topscorer award in 1998. Most recently scoring the opening goal in Panama to quiet the critics, just winning that game was something we haven’t experienced in a while, for the players and the die-hard fans. Hope you reading this are one of them or will soon be one.
2. Name two persons, whether relative or not who have been an inspiration to you.
Dwight Yorke from day one. Growing up watching the Strike Squad, and seeing him make it big in England from a third world country. That has been a major inspiration to me. My uncles and my brother Kenwyne John. When I used to come up for Dallas Cup, he used to drive us around, be around at the hotel, he’s much older than I am and he lives in Miami. Always been there for me. I tend to inspire myself because I’ve always wanted to be successful. I know how much hard work it takes to reach there. I want to make full use of a talent and I hope I can encourage others as well whether it be football or any other gift
3. Any favourite player or team?
Back in the days I always liked Marco Van Basten, Roberto Baggio. David Platt – I was privileged to play with him when he also signed me at Forest. He’s a legend. Imagine Platty was so flexible that when the ball stuck in the belly on top the goal, he used to bicycle it out. Then there’s Dwight, I think they are two of the greatest I’ve been privileged to play with.
4. You preferred other profession?
SWAT (said with a big laugh).
I really like anything that has a lot of excitement. Something that’s really exciting. A state trooper chasing bad guys on the roads. I just like that adrenalin rush flow..
5. What do you hope to accomplish either in next 5 years or end of playing career?
Right now it’s helping Trinidad and Tobago to the next World Cup. That’s like a dream come true for me and my family, for all the guys on the team, for everyone in the country really. It going to be a feeling you can’t really explain. We all know we can’t do it as a one man show and right now we have been doing it really well as a team with the new gaffer and we have all intentions of keeping it up. The new gaffer has instilled a lot into the team – a lot of passion and maybe that is what we were missing before. Giving a lot more. We tend to be too passive and he’s getting us to play with a lot more emotion.
6. Who’s been among your most admired coaches and why?
I liked Rene Simoes and the current man in charge, Leo Beenhakker. Then there’s also Anton Corneal. Those coaches allow the players express themselves. They work with a plan and they know how to get players to execute to the best of their ability. I think in coaching, player management is very critical… how you going about in doing that is vital in a coach
7. What do you think of T&T’s chances of making it to the 2006 World Cup?
We have a good chance still .We started off slow but now after that Panama game we have shown that we have what it takes. We just have to keep it up. We were unfortunate to have the Mexico game so quickly after Panama. We gave up two silly goals but I’m not going to blame anyone because we win as a team and lose as a team. I was disappointed though to have played like that and then lose like that. The only thing I didn’t understand is that we played so well and yet we lost and people thought we did really well. That made the result even more disappointing for me. The team is much more organized now than ever before.
8. Any instances or plays that you always reflect on?
The disappointments just make me stronger and wanting to work harder. Having gotten so far, you never want to give up. At least I don’t. . I’m not one to go into a shell when the going gets tough. Arthur “Jap” Brown who coached me at “El Do” and at Trincity United, always used to say it’s not that hard to get to the top but it’s how you maintain it or got higher was what was the difficult part. So far I have no regrets in my career.
9. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
My Mom Janet always used to say just go and do it to the best of your ability. Maybe that’s why I’m so competitive whether it be a fun game or something with high stakes involved.
10. What do you do to relax away from the game?
I’m a big movie collector. I also watch some DVDs and tapes of my old goals. I also look at the old video Columbus Crew sent to David Platt which was really what he saw before me signing at Forest.
11. What’s your favorite dish?
I eat too much lobster (laughs) and anyone who knows me knows that I love chicken… the healthy part – the centre breast.
12. Favourite drink?
A slow Gin and Vodka orange and cranberry when I’m out, away from football.
13. Favourite time of year?
Christmas because it’s all about family and close friends. Being in England for the last five years or more more away from home family and mates makes you tend to miss it a bit more.We also play through Christmas in England but still it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you still tend to enjoy it. I also celebrate two Christmas’ in England and T&T because of the time zones (Laughs).
14. Most comfortable football boot?
Adidas.
15. Any advice to young and upcoming ones?
Set goals and go after them. Some get it faster and easier but never compare yourself with others. You can idolize others and take pointers, but you have to be yourself. There nothing that can replace hard work. Be truthful to yourself. Be true to the game like Michael said.
A note from Stern himself:
Hope you fans enjoyed that! Currently I'm in Miami with the Trinidad and Tobago National Team preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. We play our first game against Honduras on Wednesday at the Orange Bowl. Should be a pretty exciting game and I'm looking forward to it. I scored the lone goal against them to knock them out of the 2002 World Cup runnings and I also scored when we beat them 3-1 in the 1998 Gold Cup. Hopefully I can get another good performance in and we can be successful as a team once again.