SHAKA HISLOP fields our questions

Shaka Hislop was born in England, of Trinidadian parents. Before retiring from an illustrious football career spanning some 15 years, he had played with the English (Reading FC, Newcastle United, West Ham, Portsmouth); the Americans (FC Dallas) and had proudly represented with the Trinidad National team in Germany, in 2006. His achievements include, but are not limited to ‘Hammer Player of the Year’ in the late 1990s and the PFA Special Merit Award in 2005. Shaka is, however, accomplished in areas aside from football: he is a mechanical engineer by qualification, a devoted family man, a respected analyst for ESPN and as we found out, a bit of an epicure.

BELLE: In 2006, Trinidad qualified for their first ever World Cup Finals and you were instrumental in that victory. Share with us, your feelings regarding this achievement.

SHAKA: If I had the opportunity to go back and experience anything from my career all over again, I’d ask to go back to Germany in the summer of 2006. Hearing the national anthem was easily the proudest moment of my career. I’d like to experience Trinidad and Tobago’s games again, from the stands this time.

BELLE: How did you get started in football?

SHAKA: I’ve always played sports whenever, and wherever I could. In football, I was always a little better than my friends, so I went to the National Under 12 trials a very long time ago! The coach, Basil ‘Barney’ Smith, immediately said, ‘You’re the tallest - you’re the goalkeeper!’ It was the first time I’d ever played in the goal. The rest is history, as they say.

BELLE: Your dual citizenship has been the topic of much discussion. Do you see yourself as an ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago when you are abroad?

SHAKA: Dual citizenship has provided me with my fair share of problems professionally, though not personally. I settled in well wherever I went but it was really very difficult in the early days; I had even seriously considered quitting at the end of my first year playing for England, but I’m very glad I didn’t. I’m an ambassador, albeit a reluctant one, for Trinidad and Tobago, my parents, my wife and kids, whichever club I happened to be playing for, and now for ESPN.

BELLE: Mentioning ESPN brings us to your retirement from professional football in 2007. What prompted this?

SHAKA: At thirty-eight, I was well past my sell-by date. That, and minor arthritis in my back, made it an easy decision, and one that I am certainly comfortable with. Now I’m making up for lost time with my wife and children, who are my greatest devotion.

BELLE: How is it going at ESPN?

SHAKA: It has been fantastic thus far…a real learning experience and a challenge. I’ve enjoyed every moment. The biggest plus is that I get to remain in the game with the undoubted “Worldwide Leader in Sports”. I’ve been traveling to Connecticut a lot lately, pursuing my commitments to ESPN.

BELLE: Do you have any regrets profesionally?

SHAKA: I have no regrets at all. I think the most important thing I’ve learnt is to always give it my all; only then can you go through life without regret.

BELLE: You mentioned that you’re making up for lost time with your wife and children, what do you think is the best lesson that a father can teach a child?

SHAKA: I’ve learned more about life from my kids than I think I could ever teach them. I’ve got GREAT kids. That’s all down to my wife though - don’t tell her I said that. I’m still trying to convince her that I actually know what I’m doing as a father!

BELLE: Ironically, you have four daughters and only one son. Do your girls share your enthusiasm for football or sports in general?

SHAKA: My eldest daughter is an avid dancer; my second an avid gymnast; my third and fourth both play football and do gymnastics; my boy is an absolute terror, just like his uncle. I’m not saying which uncle though.

BELLE: Who would you consider the most influential women in your life?

SHAKA: This question is easy, [first] my mother. She has instilled in me the values I most respect. She still says that I’m not too big to be put over her lap and given a good cut-tale if I ever step out of line...and I believe her! And my wife, who continues to be at the core of every sensible decision I make. I claim sole responsibility for all the dumb ones!

BELLE: On a lighter note, since this is a special food issue, will you share with our readers your favorite dish?

SHAKA: Callalloo! It’s simple and tasty; how good food is supposed to be. Too often the simplicity of food is lost in Caribbean cooking.

BELLE: I agree. What can you cook?

SHAKA: My wife taught me to cook when we were at university. My mom tried but I was too busy being a teenager to ever pay any attention. The first thing I learned to cook was stew chicken, because I was told ‘once you can cook that, you can cook anything’. This isn’t actually true, as I now know.

Here’s a funny story that I’ve never told anyone. I once made a great stew chicken. It was so good, in fact, that after all the chicken was gone, I still saved the gravy for the next day. I stewed some more chicken the following day [using the gravy I had saved] and it was just as good the second time around, but everybody got sick! I never claimed responsibility till now!

Let’s hope that the man who served so adeptly between the uprights learnt from that little faux pas and honed his skills in the culinary department.