Soca Warriors Online Exclusive Interview Shaka Hislop.

[Flex]

Exclusive Interview with Shaka Hislop.
Interview Conducted By Inshan "Flex" Mohammed.[/size]

1. No doubt you have answered your biggest critics after some fine display of goalkeeping at the 2006 world cup in Germany. You are now rated in the top 3 keepers of the tournament. Now that- that’s, over where are you heading now, as I understand you are yet to sign an extended West Ham United contract.
SH: That’s right; I haven’t signed my new West Ham deal as previously reported. A move could be on the cards. You should hear more in the next day or two.

2. As the saying goes, “time flies” the 2010 qualifiers are 2 years away how do you think we should go about preparing for it.
SH: The first and most important step has already been put in place with the re-appointment of Leo Beenhakker as the head coach for 4 more years. We’ve learned a lot in our experiences over the last year and need to continue to learn from them. Keeping a nucleus of players from this year’s tournament will also prove to be key.

3. Do you think our Technical Director Mr. Lincoln Phillips is the right man for this job. Can you touch on his progress this far or what is needed to be done in order to keep the ball rolling.
SH: Lincoln is a proven winner with a record which speaks for itself particularly in technical roles such as the one he’s spearheading now for the TTFF. Too often in the past these roles have been neglected. I’ve been bleating on for some time about how important it was that we got the administrative and technical sides of our governing body (the TTFF) right for us to progress on the football pitch. We’ve done that, and certainly have the right people in place, drastic changes now could prove detrimental to our efforts for 2010. One of the things many people don't know is that Lincoln strongly recommended Leo Beenhakker for the head coach's job after the dismissal of Bertille St. Clair. He based his recommendation on not only Beenhakker's track record as a top level coach, but also on the effect the only previous Dutch coach had on T&T football, preceding the Strike Squad (you would probably know more than me on this). Beenhakker's appointment was seen not only as a short-term fix but Lincoln knew it would have real long term benefit to our game.

4. Can you give us a brief run down on how was the experience at the world cup - e.g.

a) Were you nervous, which game in particular.
SH: I wasn’t nervous, strangely, something upset me a few days before the first game and I used that emotion to get me through the game. After that I was almost on auto-pilot.

b) Who shirts you got after both games.
SH: I swapped shirts with the goalkeepers in each of the games I played. I kept my own shirt after the Paraguay game.

c) Did you get any props from some of your former English team-mates who lined up against you.
SH: Most of the English players were either too relieved, too tired, or both to say much after the game. I had a chat with Joe Cole and Rio after the game, but remember Steven Gerrard saying that we should be “very proud” of our performance. It was scant consolation at the time though.

d) What was the English and Swedish players telling you after the game.
SH: The Swedish players didn’t have too much to say after the game. Besides, we were too busy celebrating.

e) How was the training leading up to the games.
SH: Training leading up to the games was exactly as they had been for some time. Intense but enjoyable.

f) How was the support from the fans.
SH: FANTASTIC!!!!! They took Germany by storm! Every Trinbagonian should be proud.

g) Who was the motivator in the locker room.
SH: Dwight. Captain Fantastic.

5. Why were you dropped from the team for our last game against Paraguay after you gave such a brave display. In other words, do you think the coach loyalty to certain players cloud his selection.
SH: I fully understand and respect the coach’s decision to play Kelvin in the last game. Kelvin is a fantastic goalkeeper and will always have my full support and backing, whenever and wherever he needs it.

6. What was the reason for us wearing long sleeve shirts when we played Paraguay.
SH: The captain chose that, you’ll have to ask him. I always wear long-sleeved shirts! HAHAHA!!!

7. Seeing that you are close to retirement age. If you were given a chance to be goalkeeper coach for T&T will you accept the job. Also, do you think Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke can be of any help to us (off the field off course) for the 2010 push.
SH: We have a very good goalkeeping coach in Michael Maurice, I’ll never step on his toes in that respect. And yes it’s imperative that the experience and knowledge of our 2 most successful foot-balling exports is called upon and relied on.

8. Were you please with the reward that the T&T Government gave you. Or did you prefer something other than money, for instance a piece of land, or give the TTFF money towards the 2010 program, maybe a team buss and first class training facility or something else.
SH: No comment.

9. We all know how poor the government has been to the sport and we know players deserve to get paid because that’s their jobs. However, do you think by the T&T government giving players money could send the wrong message. Can this improve or affect the future of T&T players wanting to don the red, black and white. Could this affect team pride or will it act as an incentive for the future ones to step up.
SH: The government have a responsibility to ALL sport in T&T, their successes or failures in this respect are not for me to comment on. AS far as rewarding us financially goes, we’re professional footballers, all of us. We get paid to play football. The government rewarding us for our efforts is only in keeping with our profession, and can only serve to encourage others to follow in our footsteps. It is not an easy road to follow though. It takes a lot of dedication, sweat and patience.

10. How will you feel if coach Leo Beenhakker and his assistant Whim Rijsbergen stay on for another 4 years. Do you think he has it in him to repeat the 2006 success.
SH: I commented on this earlier.

11. We at the Soca Warriors Online was dreaded by the news last week learning that your uncle passed and we would like to offer you our deepest condolence. Do you have any words for the fans of the Soca Warriors Online.
SH: Thanks for your condolences. And thank you for your continued support over the years. It means more than you can ever imagine.

12. Who do you feel will win the 2006 world cup and if you were asked to name an all-star eleven, who will you choose.
SH: France. And I won’t.

Thank You...
Shaka Hislop.

Note: On behalf of the Soca Warriors Online I just what to say Thank You to Mr. Shaka Hislop for taking the time to do this interview for us. Please keep up the great work you are doing and we all wish you all the best for the future of T&T football...

05-Jul-2006.

[Small Magician aka Wazza]

Exclusive Interview with Shaka Hislop.
Interview Conducted By Inshan "Flex" Mohammed.[/size]

1. No doubt you have answered your biggest critics after some fine display of goalkeeping at the 2006 world cup in Germany. You are now rated in the top 3 keepers of the tournament. Now that- that’s over where are you heading now, as I understand you are yet to sign an extended West Ham United contract.
SH: That’s right; I haven’t signed my new West Ham deal as previously reported. A move could be on the cards. You should hear more in the next day or two.

2. As the saying goes, “time flies” the 2010 qualifiers are 2 years away how do you think we should go about preparing for it.
SH: The first and most important step has already been put in place with the re-appointment of Leo Beenhakker as the head coach for 4 more years. We’ve learned a lot in our experiences over the last year and need to continue to learn fro them. Keeping a nucleus of players from this year’s tournament will also prove to be key.

I want to see who wants Shaka....     and guys yuh tink Shaka spill some beans with dat Leo staying on has already been put in place?   HOPEFULLY!

well done Shaka\

2010 here we come!

[Grande]

great job as usual flex

thanks 

[TrinInfinite]

ur a boss flex, like usual u always have we full support

[maxg]

great interview Flex

[Trini _2026]

Nice one flex

[morvant]

yeah man thanks flex, and shaka

go france

[MickeyRat]

Flex, you need a wok with the BBC padna.  Yuh not easy.
Well done!

[Rymizx]

8. Were you please with the reward the T&T Government gave you. Or did you prefer something other than money, for instance a piece of land, or give the TTFF money towards the 2010 program, maybe a team buss and first class training facility or something else.
SH: No comment.

A lot has been said with this no comment

[lickslikefire]

Exclusive Interview with Shaka Hislop.
Interview Conducted By Inshan "Flex" Mohammed.[/size]

2. As the saying goes, “time flies” the 2010 qualifiers are 2 years away how do you think we should go about preparing for it.
SH: The first and most important step has already been put in place with the re-appointment of Leo Beenhakker as the head coach for 4 more years. We’ve learned a lot in our experiences over the last year and need to continue to learn fro them. Keeping a nucleus of players from this year’s tournament will also prove to be key.

fellas when i read this I couldn't help but smile...please let it be true......

Thanks flex and much respeck Shaka for all the years of committment and service

[samo]

Thanx Flex Great bjob as usual...
Thanx Shaka for your great service to T&T and the sport itself... One of the few gentelmen in the game...

[weary1969]

Big up Shaka the only man the rampant Sando Tech did not score on in 1985. All the Best in the future whatever you decide.

[Sam]

Shaka I was never a big fan of yours until the world cup ? big up, great saves, great person and great interview. So Lincoln did recommend Leo Beenhakker...hhmmm...

Good Luck.

Flex, you have out done yourself again and again, nice interview.

[whistler91]

Thanks for the interview. It is very good that the fans following through with our players even though our episode finish.

Nice interview.

[pass(10trini)]

Thanks Mr. Flex . This was an eye opening inter...Nice.

[Brej]

nice interview
good read

[Jefferz]

I just heard from shaka's brother that he signed with the Dalas team... Hes going there to live and such so in this case he'll be closer to home and can come back more often and what not.


Should be an interesting move.

[MickeyRat]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/5151820.stm

West Ham's Hislop moves to States 
 
Veteran Hislop played 25 matches for West Ham last season
Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has joined American club FC Dallas from West Ham.
The 37-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international played against Sweden and England at the World Cup in Germany.

Hislop has plied his trade in England for 14 years and has represented Reading, Newcastle, Portsmouth and the Hammers in two spells.

"This is an exciting new challenge for me. I went to school in the United States and have a lot of respect for soccer in the country," said Hislop.

"I look forward to bringing my experience to a great organisation and help FC Dallas win championships in America."

The move means Hislop's final game in West Ham colours was the FA Cup final defeat on penalties against Liverpool.

He then went to the World Cup in Germany where he worked wonders to keep Sweden at bay in a goalless draw before being beaten by two late goals against England.

America's Major Soccer League is halfway through its season and FC Dallas are presently top of the MLS Western Division.

From the BBC
 

[MickeyRat]

http://fc.dallas.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060705&content_id=64825&vkey=pr_fcd&fext=.jsp&team=fcd

FC Dallas signs World Cup goalkeeper Shaka Hislop

FC Dallas Media Relations


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas announced today the signing of Trinidad & Tobago 2006 World Cup starting goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. Hislop joins FC Dallas from English Premier League club West Ham United, with which he played 25 games during the recently completed 2005-2006 season including in the FA Cup Final in May, 2006.
"This is an exciting new challenge for me," said Hislop. "I went to school in the United States and have a lot of respect for soccer in the country. I look forward to bringing my experience to a great organization and help FC Dallas win championships in America."

Hislop has had a tremendous summer to date. In May, he led West Ham to the Football Association Cup (FA Cup) final against Liverpool. Having tied 3-3 in regulation, Liverpool pulled out the victory by a 3-1 margin in penalty kicks. A month later, Hislop was in goal for his country at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. On June 10, Hislop's made numerous game-saving stops to give Trinidad a historic shutout against a powerful Sweden side. Five days later, he started against England, keeping a clean sheet for 83 minutes before falling 2-0.

Hislop was born in London and moved to Trinidad with his family when he was two years old. From 1988-1992 he attended Howard University in Washington D.C., playing goalkeeper all four years for the Bisons. In his freshman year, Howard advanced to the NCAA Division 1 College Cup final, losing 1-0 to Indiana. He graduated in May 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Having an English passport, Hislop was offered an opportunity to play professionally in England. After college, he was drafted by the Baltimore Blast, a professional indoor soccer team. In an exhibition game against Aston Villa in Birmingham, he was spotted by a scout from Reading FC. He signed and made his professional debut with Reading in the English Second Division against West Bromwich Albion on September 9, 1992 and helped the team get promoted to the First Division following the 1993-1994 season. In his third season, he led the club to a second place finish, narrowly missing out promotion to the English Premier League (EPL).

Following his success at Reading, he was transferred to Newcastle United of the EPL on August 10, 1995 for 1.575 million pounds, then an English record for a goalkeeper. He went on to play 126 games over three years with Newcastle and then signed with West Ham United for the 1998-1999 season. After four seasons with West Ham, Hislop was signed by Portsmouth of the First Division for the 2001-2002 season, where he was coached by current FC Dallas goalkeeping coach Alan Knight. Hislop helped the team gain promotion to the top flight after his first season, and kept the team in the Premiership for his next two campaigns.

After a trial at Crystal Palace, Hislop re-signed with West Ham - which had just been promoted to the Premier League - on July 29, 2005. He played 25 games for West Ham during the past season, including seven games during the run to the FA Cup final.

On the international front, Hislop made his first international appearance for England's U-21 team, playing against Switzerland in March 1998 as one of three overage players allotted to each team. He was also called in to an England 'B' game against Chile on February 10, 1998, though he did not see action. Having never played a FIFA sanctioned game for England, Hislop made his international debut with Trinidad & Tobago on March 28, 1999.

In April 2005, Hislop was recognized as the recipient of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Special Merit Award for his continued involvement with the "Show Racism The Red Card" campaign, which he helped start in 1996 as a way to keep racism away from soccer.

Hislop, will occupy the teams fourth senior international slot will join the team pending visa approval once the International Transfer Window opens on July 15. His full name is Neil Shaka Hislop. He is married and the couple has four daughters.

Shaka Hislop Professional Soccer Club History
1992-1995 Reading (ENG)
1995-1998 Newcastle United (ENG)
1998-2002 West Ham United (ENG)
2002-2005 Portsmouth (ENG)
2005-2006 West Ham United (ENG)

[weary1969]

Good move at this point in his career.

[DeTrini]

I agree it a very good move for him

[Sam]

I wonder how much MLS paying Shaka, he might be the higest paid in the league seeing that West Ham still wanted him and he turn them down to go MLS, because de English pound real heavy...

[dtool]

Nice one Flex ....
Dtool