Tuesday, April 25, 2006

by Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

LONDON, England: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop says he is looking forward to playing in his first World Cup finals this summer after coming back from a minor set back in his career last year.

After falling out of favour at Portsmouth and being released by the Premiership side before the start of the 2005 season, Hislop did not know where his next game was coming from.

However, since his move back to West Ham United, the towering keeper has enjoyed some success and said he's now on the verge of the most exciting chapter of his career.

"Professionally, the next three months can be a very special time for me," said Shaka. "To be part of a Trinidad and Tobago squad that has qualified for Germany 2006 has been the pinnacle of my career.

"We'll be running out against England in a few weeks time - and I'm very proud to have been in a West Ham United team that has got this far in the FA Cup, too."

Reflecting back on his struggles last season when he was left in cold after he was told he did not fall in the plans of new manager Alain Perrin, Hislop said he never saw this success coming.

"A year ago I could never have seen this coming," he said. "To all intents and purposes I was third choice goalkeeper at Portsmouth and not enjoying things. In fact, I wouldn't even have envisaged this three months ago, yet alone 12 months ago.

"I was understudy to Roy Carroll and only getting the odd game here and there, but I kept working hard to keep myself in good physical shape just in case something happened, and then lo and behold it did.

"With my wife and four daughters around me, I never lost sight of what's important. I was working hard for them rather than just sitting around feeling sorry for myself and when Roy got his unfortunate injury, I was happy to come in and I've been delighted with the way things have gone.

"It's gone full circle for me and I've been able to pick up the pieces, hit the ground running and carry on from where he left off."

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