Shaka: “I’m good…” Ex-T&T football star revived after scare during live ESPN broadcast

Editor Sunday 23 July 2023 Global Football, Local Football, National Football, Volley 1 Comment

“I’m good. Bloody nose, bruised ego, but good otherwise. Thanks for the messages.”

ESPN football analyst and Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup goalkeeper Shaka Hislop assured supporters that he was feeling well, after appearing to faint during the pre-match coverage of a friendly between Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

ESPN analyst and former Trinidad and Tobago football star Shaka Hislop.

Hislop, 54, was standing alongside co-commentator Dan Thomas when he suddenly began wobbling before he fell to the ground. Thomas subsequently told concerned viewers that: “Shaka is conscious. The medics are looking after him.”

Wired868 spoke to a close relative who confirmed that they spoke to Hislop since the incident and he sounded okay, but was awaiting test results.

Hislop subsequently told his thousands of fans from across three continents that he felt fine. He is still expected to undergo a thorough checkup in the near future.

Born in London, Hislop grew up in Trinidad—the home of his parents, George and Gina Hislop—studied mechanical engineering at Howard University in Washington, before he became a professional footballer in England. He excelled everywhere.

Once England’s most expensive goalkeeper, Hislop played for Newcastle United, West Ham United and Portsmouth in the English Premier League and will almost certainly go down as Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful custodian.

Then Trinidad and Tobago and Newcastle goalkeeper Shaka Hislop (left) saves from Liverpool star Robbie Fowler (red shirt) during an England Premier League match.
(Copyright UK Telegraph)

He is a Chaconia Medal gold recipient for his services to Trinidad and Tobago on the football field, as well as a Hall of Fame inductee at Howard University and a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Hall of Fame.

At the Germany 2006 World Cup, Hislop famously kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw for the Soca Warriors on their debut at that stage against a Sweden team that boasted of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson and Fredrik Ljunberg.

His success transcends sport, though. Hislop’s anti-racism work with Show Racism The Red Card, which started when he was a 26-year-old Newcastle goalkeeper, earned him a Special Merit Award from the England Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).

Dr Shaka Hislop CM poses next to a statue of the iconic late civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr at Newcastle University.
(via Shaka Hislop)

The only other non-British footballer to win a PFA Special Merit Award is the iconic late Brazil football star, Pele.

Last year, Hislop was also presented with an honorary degree from Newcastle University and the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne for his anti-racism work.