Exclusive: Football Made Me Somebody - Sierra Leone Goalkeeper Christian Caulker

Sierra Leone international goalkeeper Christian Caulker says he is a blessed man. The 21-year-old has, from a life lived on the streets of Freetown, fraught with its many troubles after their prolonged civil war, become a star in his homeland. He says anywhere he goes in his country people come out to meet him.

“They shake my hand, take photos with me and get autographs. Football has made me somebody” says Caulker who plays club football for Kallon FC in the Sierra Leonean top flight.  

Even though his parents were against his choice of football at an early age in favour of college like his other siblings, Caulker says football has brought him success.

“My parents became interested in my career when I got invited to the Under 17 side that played the Meridian Cup in Turkey in 2005” he says in a Goal.com interview.

Since then his career has been on the upward move. He began playing as a goalkeeper at Freetown’s Sierra Rangers before moving to his present team two years ago. He has also progressed from the junior ranks of the national team to the first choice in the Leone Stars.

His interesting career began as a defender at amateur level. He says he heard a voice in his dream one night that told him to become a goal minder.

“The voice told me that is the way I will become great” he says.

Yielding to that voice surely has seen him begin a march on the path to greatness. He now looks up to Manchester United’s Edwin van der Sar as his goalkeeping hero. On the home front Caulker is motivated by Ibrahim Bangura of local side Central Parade.

Even though the small West African nation has not had an impressive resume on the international scene like illustrious neighbours Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, Caulker feels it is only a matter of time before they would become a household name.

The Leone Stars missed out on qualifying for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola where they lost in qualification to Nigeria over two legs, got an impressive four points against South Africa and managed a home win over Equatorial Guinea.

“It is my dream to play at the Nations Cup and the World Cup for my country one day. We have been trying and we will continue to aspire till we get our dreams fulfilled.”

When asked to say one interesting thing about himself, Caulker pauses on the topic for a while seemingly wondering what to say. However something interesting happens as he is about to enter into the lift at the Hotel Ndiabour in Dakar on his way to a practice match.

He hesitates for a second and decides to take the staircase instead.

“I have been afraid of lifts since I got stuck in one when we played a friendly in London against (English side) Millwall in 2007.

"I was stuck in for about three minutes and I don’t want to experience that again,” he says with a smile.