CARIBBEAN TODAY -usw^caribbeantodj..c.. SPORT T&T's Hislop bides his time over new U.S. soccer challenge ~ T&T World Cup hero moves to MLS's F.C. Dallas GORDON WILLIAMS Shaka Hislop knows all about waiting. That's because he's so confident it will never be in vain. The man who stepped from the shadows of a substi- tute at virtually the last minute to shine for Trinidad and Tobago on soccer's bi-LsI stage the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany lives the perfect formula: patience does pay. "You never know when opportunity will come. You just have to be ready," the goal- keeper told Caribbean Today last month as he continued his cur- rent role as a back-up with his new team F.C. Dallas of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Staying ready is the philosophy Hislop Hislop in a has adapted through- out his long career, including 14 years in Europe's profes- sional leagues, many at the club game's highest level. Yet even though success never totally eluded him twice fin- ishing runner-up in the English Premier League (EPL) he had to wait until age 37 to rel- ish the greatest moments of his soccer life. And after all those years, which included hopping between several clubs top flight English teams Newcastle United and Portsmouth among them it happened in the space of one month. In May, the 6' 4" Hislop started the final of the EA. Cup for West Ham, It took a spectacular late shot from England international Steven Gerrard of Liverpool to snatch one of the most prestigious trophies in world club soccer from the grasp of Hislop and the Hammers. BIGGER HIGHLIGHT But Hislop was not deflat- ed for long. The following month just hours before T&T was to make its historic entrance into the World Cup - he learned that he would replace injured Kelvin Jack in goal against Sweden. Nothing in more than a dozen pro sea- sons, and dozens more interna- tional caps, could top the expe- action for West Ham in England last season. rience of lining up with his teammates as T&T's national anthem cascaded from the public address system on June 10 at Dortmund. "It was a lifelong ambition to be in the World Cup," said Hislop, who went on to per- form brilliantly for the Soca Warriors in a surprise 0-0 draw with Sweden, and days later in a 0-2 defeat to England, although he was again beaten by a Gerrard strike late in the game. "Throughout (my career) I always thought something was missing for me and that was the World Cup. "Things went well for me personally and the team," he explained, although the tiny twin-island republic of just over a million people the smallest nation ever to reach the finals failed to score a goal in the tournament and was eliminated in the group stage. "It's a high that I will probably never come down from." FRESH START Hislop's bi.-sl soccer highlights had came within a month of each other, making that, according to him, "a nice note to sign off" his European ranked professional league, but still scoffed at by the tradi- tional club powers of Europe and South America. He misses the packed ter- races at England's soccer grounds and the chanting, ultra-passionate fans who roar on world-class players each weekend. "Of course," he admitted, "the environment is different." But he looks at the MLS, a relatively young league with a promising future, as a fresh start that he is already relish- ing. "It is not a come down," said Hislop about playing in the MLS. "It's still about foot- ball, soccer. It was a time for a new challenge. I wanted a new challenge, a fresh challenge." So he did not re-sign with West Ham, although, he said, the club offered him a con- tract. He claimed he wanted to be closer to T&T, the place he calls "home", although he was born in the United Kingdom Hislop, left, and captain Dwight Yorke celebrate T&T's historic qualification for the finals of World Cup 2006 career on. Yet, despite still being buoyed by the World Cup experience, Hislop insists he does not look down at the MLS, America's highest James P. Gagel, PA Immigration Law Offices . Professionals and specialty workers Managers for U.S, Subsidianes Nannys & Home Care Workers Family Petitions Importers/Exporters & Investors [ Artists, Athletes & Entertainers Businessmen, Scientists, Educators Labor Certification & Residence- Employees & Families Waivers and petitions at U.S. consulates abroad Criminal Immigration Matters Deportation: Asylum, Cancellation of Removal Citizenship 305.444.7775 jgagel@jgagel.com www.visas-america.c 150 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1270 Coral Gables, FL 33134 and attended Howard University in the U.S. T&T is also where his wife and her family are from. "I wanted more stability," Hislop explained. He went to EC. Dallas fully aware that the starting goalkeeper's job belonged to Dario Sala, a 32-year-old Argentine who last played for Arsenal, another top level EPL club. With the club on an impressive run in the MLS's Western Conference when he joined in early August, Hislop already knew he would have to compete hard for playing time. At the time of this interview early last month he had only seen action in the U.S. Open Cup on Aug. 23, and was still waiting to make his MLS debut. "Even with his pedigree, we knew when we brought him in that we weren't just going to give him the (starting) job," EC. Dallas's Media Relations Manager Justin Pearson told Caribbean Today. "He would have to fight for a job like everyone else on the roster." STILL INTENSE Hislop doesn't mind. He said his intensity has not diminished with the crossing of the oceans. He signed on with EC. Dallas through the end of next season simply because he wants to play. "I'm still as competitive as I was," he said. "The rules of the game haven't changed that much (from England to the U.S.). My competitiveness has- n't changed that much." However, he understands that he still must prove he is good enough. For that, he is armed with his most telling weapon. "The single-minded inten- sity remains the same," Hislop said. He insisted he has set no timetable for grabbing a start- ing spot. Sitting and watching, the patience that has brought him so much reward in the past, is fine.. .for now. "It's nothing new to me," he said. "It doesn't bother me in the slightest...It's just part of the game." While he waits, Hislop said he has no problem doing what- ever he can to help EC. Dallas win the MLS. He supports Sala and the other young goalkeep- ers at the club. In some ways he is like the old veteran passing on the knowledge. They turn to him, and he loves it. "I feel I have a role and responsibility to be support- ive," he said. "I am enjoying it." And even if it eventually turns sour, which Hislop seri- ously doubts, he can always look back at his special sum- mer, when in less than a month his soccer career reached its pinnacle. "I was happy as a fan just to be there," he recalled about hearing the T&T national anthem in Germany at the World Cup. 1 ,r nk it was a special moment. That was the highlight on the field. What a big moment for me, my country." Just something to think about while he exercises his most valuable virtue. Gordon Williams is Caribbean Today's managing editor. Beginning Nov. 1, 2006 you may e-mail him at editor@caribbeantoday.com 0 October 2006