Hislop back to help TT qualify

PROMINENT English-based goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has made his intentions clear —  he wants to contribute to Trinidad and Tobago qualifying for World Cup Germany 2006. The Portsmouth keeper said, however, he does not want to block the progress of other young goalkeepers. He made these comments during a training session at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, on Thursday, as the national footballers prepared for Sunday’s CONCACAF qualifying semi-final second round match against St Kitts/Nevis. Hislop pointed out: “We have three fantastic keepers in Kelvin Jack who is injured at the moment, Clayton Ince and young Durrance Williams. We have too much talent and depth and I am far too old to go on for too long,” he said. “In all fairness I won’t be around much longer. I certainly don’t want to stand in anyone’s way.” The national squad checked into the Royal Hotel, San Fernando, yesterday, ahead of tomorrow’s match at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

“It’s always exciting and always an honour to come to play for the country. It’s going to be two tough games but we won’t back down from the challenge,” Hislop said. But he warned: “St Kitts are going to be coming hard at us and they are not going to be any pushovers. “It’s a match that I believe we should win but we can only do it once we approach it the correct way and that is to be disciplined and on target at the same time.” Meanwhile, Strikers Stern John, Cornell Glen, Jerren Nixon and Errol McFarlane Jnr, all looked sharp in training while English-born defender Ian Cox has settled back into the team alongside fellow defenders Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Marlon Rojas, Keyeno Thomas, Brent Sancho, Derek King and Kenwyne Jones. The addition of English-born midfielder Andre Boucaud should also prove valuable alongside skipper Angus Eve, Silvio Spann, Densil Theobald, Brent Rahim and Anthony Rougier who is expected to join the team from China. Coach Bertille St Clair and his team leave on Monday for their second-leg clash with Mexico, in Puebla on Wednesday.