The Boon Legacy

As chief of the ground staff,Anthony was in charge of logistics,organising the team sheets,coordinating with maintenance and keeping a track of the overall development of the MHA Stadium. Nicholas and Agnel took over the responsibilities from their father soon after he retired. “I had started off as a ball-boy for the games that were held back then,” says Agnel. “I was just 12 at the time but we were always helping Dad when he was working.”

Diagnosed three years ago with kidney failure,Nicholas has been forced to stay at home,leaving Agnel in charge of the operations at the stadium.

With the former Parsi Cycles player maintaining a close watch on the matches played at the ground,his nephew,Boon has now entered his second year with the Central Railways. “I watch him every time he plays,” says Agnel. “But I try not to wave out to him because that will just distract him.” Boon too agrees with his uncle’s actions. “I meet him before and after the games,” he says. “But I never look up at the stands because I’m supposed to be playing. But it’s a calming feeling to know that I have someone from my family watching over me when I play.”

Boon’s playing in the Super League has made him the only person in the family to play at this level. But his playing career has always revolved around the MHA Stadium. “I’m not sure when I first started playing,” says the midfielder. “But there is a photograph of me in the ground,as a two year old,holding a hockey stick.”

A student at Our Lady of Dolours at Marine Lines,the 24-year old soon joined Bawa’s Academy,headed by Marzban Patel,the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Sports Journalist Association of Mumbai. Fondly known as “Bawa,” Patel mentored Boon who later joined Union Bank of India,followed by a two year stint at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF). Currently in his second year at Central Railways,Boon has regularly found himself on the score sheet. “This is the first time in a long time that I’ve been made to play as a forward,” he says. “It’s always good to score goals,but I’d still prefer playing as a midfielder.”

Regardless of the fact that his father requires dialysis treatment on a daily basis,Boon jokingly claims to be constantly put under the hammer by his father. “He always scolds me whenever I play badly,” says Boon. “He gets the daily reports from my uncle,and then fires me up. Sometimes when I play very well but make one mistake,he gets on my back for it.” He further adds that he has not been subject to any rebukes since he has been scoring regularly as of late. “I miss him at times because he used to watch all my games,” says the youngster. “But my uncle is there,so that’s good enough for now.”

Along with Boon is his elder brother Peter who plays for Air India’s Western Division in the third division. Until last year,Agnel too played in the fourth division. But all eyes in the family look up to the five-foot four inch tall midfielder,who dons the number 11 jersey for his team and continues to hold his family’s presence in the game.