An Indian in Canada colours gets ready for hockey World Cup

Not representing the country was always a regret for Reginald Pereira, a left-winger for the Mumbai and Mahindra hockey teams in the late 80s. However, the 48-year-old Pereira is now living the dream through his son Keegan, who plays for the Canadian national team and is set to tour India for the forthcoming FIH World Cup beginning in New Delhi.

“It’s a dream fulfilled for me,” says Pereira senior. “I too played for Mumbai but my dream of representing the national side remained just a dream. So it gives me great pleasure that my son has achieved this at the age of 18.”

Keegan was born in Mumbai and studied at St. Stanislaus school in Bandra before his father decided to migrate to Canada in 1999. Though young Keegan, now a resident of Scarborough, Ontario, has already played for the senior team, it will be the first big assignment for the forward.

“It’s great that he is going back to his roots,” said Pereira. “We are very excited about him travelling to India and he, too, is keenly looking forward to this trip.”

Pereira says his son, who is currently training at a national camp in Cananda, has all the traits of a natural Indian hockey player. “He has that skill-based play for which Indians are known the world over. He likes to dribble a lot and has that dodging and sidestepping style. He is an Indian player playing for Canada,” said Pereira.

Although ice-hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, Keegan chose to play field hockey because of his father. “Since I played field hockey, it was natural for him to choose the same sport,” stated Pereira. Pereira says his son might travel to Mumbai after his World Cup campaign is over. “It all depends on the schedule of the Canadian team. If he gets time he would love to visit Mumbai.”