Shaka commits to playing for Soca Warriors

Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop yesterday denied reports in England that he is considering retiring from international football. BBC and Associated press reports stated that Hislop commented on the weekend that he would be packing in the TT shirt soon to concentrate fully on his club career. But the Portsmouth ‘keeper spoke to the management of the national team and confirmed that he is not leaving the international scene, adding that he is interested in helping the younger goalkeepers develop.

He repeated his opinion that TT had good, young goalkeeping talent and he does not want to block their progress. However he emphasised that he was prepared to play his part in taking the Soca Warriors to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. “I’ve said it before that I’m not getting any younger and there are other good goalkeepers coming up,” Hislop said. “But I have come back to play for my country which is always an honour and I will play whatever role I can at this time. I felt good out there in the last two matches (against St Kitts/Nevis and Mexico) and I think the team is beginning to make progress and we definitely want to give it our best shot at getting to the next World Cup,” he added. The report out of England quoted Hislop as saying: “I don’t think I will be playing international football much longer and these two matches may have been my last. It is getting more difficult now. It is a long flight to Trinidad and I am not getting any younger.

“I will talk it over with my family and see what is best. I turned down an invitation to play for Trinidad last year but the time seemed right to return. I also feel they have enough cover now with Clayton Ince at Crewe doing very well and they also have Daurance Williams coming through, so there is enough competition in the goalkeeping department. “It will give me more of a rest. The travelling takes it out of you and now I want to concentrate on club football.” However, Hislop, in a brief conversation before Portsmouth’s league fixture with Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, denied that his appearance in Puebla was his last and has vowed to be part of the rest of the Journey to Germany campaign once fit and selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago.