Shaka Hislop does not quite have the late Duke's flamboyance but, like the revered calypsonian, his height-he is six feet five inches-and sartorial elegance helped him to stand out among his colleagues. Like the Mighty Duke, there is substance behind the image too.
These days, Hislop, who has a degree with honours in mechanical engineering from Howard University, USA, and is a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intern, earns a living in the United States as an ESPN sport analyst, and is the first president of the Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT).
Q: The British Times (two weeks ago) named you as number two among English football's top ten brainiest footballers ever. Was your degree ever a talking point at any of your clubs?
A: My degree was reported on a few times during my career, but I always tried to downplay it. It never seemed to bother or impress any of my teammates. All that mattered was if I could keep the ball out of the net . I visited the engineering department at the University of Reading just after I had signed there. That's as much as I have done in the profession since my graduation back in '92.
Considering that Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy seem impervious to the passage of time, do you feel you might have quit too soon?
No. Some may say that I stayed on a couple of years too many...and to be honest, World Cup apart, I may even agree! [Laughs] I have no regrets about packing in when I did. My body simply couldn't stand up to the rigours of playing at the top level anymore. I retired on my own terms, and that is all any professional ever asks.
What is it difficult to adjust to life as a sport commentator?
Yes, it was . There is a lot to deal with away from the camera or mic, as the case may be.... The more I do it, the better I think I get. Let's just say there's a whole lot more to it than the discussions I find myself in with Pie and the fellas, sitting outside Hereford's on Maraval Road. [Laughs]
Care to share your most inspired moment on air?
I'm not sure I have had any! [Laughs] Early this season, (Italian football team) Juventus lost 2-1 at home to Palermo, who play in pink, and the ref was Paolo Tagliavento, who, as it happens, is a hairdresser. I said, "The old lady of Italian football was undone by men in pink and a hairdresser!" It raised a chuckle in ESPN anyway. [Laughs]
Have you thought about returning to the game as a coach or goalkeeping coach?
A goalkeeping coach maybe. I still have a passion for the position. Given my own experiences, I also have a whole lot that I can share with young, aspiring and talented keepers.
What are your thoughts on the current coaching set up with Francisco Maturana and Russell Latapy? What do you think Latapy brings to the table in his present role?
I have been saying for some time that it was absolutely vital that Russell is included as quickly as possible in our coaching set-up. Football is a direct reflection of a country's society, our history. Russell is the first player who has achieved at the highest level in Europe, can fully appreciate our own and unique footballing and social history, and have that truly reflected in our football.
In his current position, Russell will not only continue to learn his role and grow into the head coach's role, which I hope at some point, in the next few years, will become his. In the short term, as much as Maturana will captain the ship, I hope that Russell will give the team direction.
Of all your teammates at club and international level, who was the most fun to be around?
Brent Sancho! [Laughs heartily again] No pun intended, but Sanch was always the life of the party. At times, after a defeat, let's say, Sanch would somehow have us all smiling and looking forward to righting our wrongs.
For example, the mood on the plane from Piarco to Bahrain was despondent, to say the least, as you might expect. I don't think that Sanch slept at all for the entire 14-hour flight. He walked up and down that plane speaking to anyone who was awake, convincing them that we had Bahrain right where we wanted them.
By the time we landed, we were all convinced that we would win the second leg, even without sleep! [Laughs]
What made you take up the post of FPATT president and how are things going?
I remain absolutely convinced of the need for T&T players' voices to be heard. Given my own professional experiences and commitment to T&T football, it was an easy fit.
Things have been going slowly indeed. We, as you all know, have gotten a much-needed injection of start-up funds from the Government, which will now allow us to do the things we had always planned, in representing T&T players.
First line of business is the election to have a formally-elected board, as opposed to an interim board, which we've employed till now. We will then be in a position to act on a lot of the initial projects that we already have in place.
FIFA VP and Opposition MP Jack Warner claimed FPATT is funding the World Cup players' legal battle against the TTFF and that, as a union, you should have no claim to taxpayers' money. How do you respond?
The Minister and Ministry of Sport understand the role that FPATT can, and intends to play, in our football. They understand that to achieve, it takes some start-up costs, and have come to our aid. FPATT is neither a political nor a confrontational association, but we appreciate the role of the player in the game. After all, the players are the game's true assets, which is almost hard to believe, given T&T's footballing landscape.
As for Mr Warner's claim that FPATT is somehow funding the arbitration, nothing is more preposterous! Firstly, FPATT has not had any money to call its own. Secondly, FPATT's responsibilities are only to our members, and though many of the litigants are registered members, the legal challenge was launched before our formal inception. As such, FPATT has continually distanced itself from the entire arbitration proceedings.
Mr Warner's continued claim, I can only assume, is to somehow discredit the association, given that no one from the TTFF has even bothered to sit and have a coffee with us.
What is FPATT's relationship with the TTFF and the various local club owners?
FPATT has continually tried to sit with the TTFF to discuss our own plans and visions and the role that we can have in T&T football. The TTFF have continually resisted our approaches, for what, I can only assume, are very selfish reasons.... We do work closely with the TT Pro League and a few of the clubs.... If we all pull in the same direction, football should be self-sustaining. That would only benefit all involved.
Can you do the job from overseas?
Initially, certainly. If or when the Association gets to point where I can't, I'll simply step aside. T&T football and, indeed, FPATT can and should eventually be run entirely by Trinbagonians based in Trinidad and Tobago.
Any plans of returning home to live? What needs to be in place for that to happen?
That's easy, the correct six numbers, a cold Carib and a bake and shark from Richard's! [Laughs] Seriously, though, it'll be an easy transition for my wife (Desha) and I, but for some 12 years now, what we want comes a distant second to what's best for our family. Moving to Trini will always be a possibility but, until our nest is empty, it'll never be an easy decision.
How is your own family? Are there any possible national athletes or budding engineers within the Hislop clan?
The family's all doing well. My wife and I have five very talented and beautiful kids. My wife has to take responsibility for that.... Don't tell her I said that though, because I still try to claim I had something to do with it all.
My eldest dances wonderfully. Anyone who has seen me dance knows I cannot take any responsibility for that. My second is a gymnast, and I can't touch my toes. My third is a footballer/basketballer, alright, I have a claim there. My fourth, a footballer herself, and fifth are little terrors, all me again! [Chuckle]
How would you describe Trinidad and Tobago's 2010 World Cup chances? Are we better or worse off than four years ago?
At the start of the campaign, I would've said worse off. I know I'll get a whole lot of stick for saying that but the major players in Dwight and Russell are four years older.
But then, I didn't think the '06 team was as good as the '02 team. The '06 team had better team spirit than the team of '02 though, and that was the difference.
The one thing that this campaign has over the last one is the experience of qualification. The benefit of that experience, from the players to the administration to the fans, puts this team in better stead. Given the spirit shown in getting through the first round, our chances this time are every bit as good as four years ago. Given our first-round showing, I'd say we have a better chance of immediate qualification by finishing in the top three of the hex, than we ever did four years ago . I'd love to now go to a WC as a fan.
I should add, too, that I don't think we have ever had a team as good as the 1989 Strike Squad.