It’s a proud moment for any father to see his son emulate him. So, when former India hockey striker Edward Aranha says that he’s both nervous and excited ahead of son Brooklyn’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup (Nov 28 to Dec 10) debut for Canada in Madurai, it’s understandable.

Contrasting styles 

Interestingly, there’s a stark contrast between not only the nature of both father and son, but also their hockey abilities. Edward, 55, who excelled in Mumbai hockey circles for Air India (1988 to 1990 and 1992 to 2001) and Mahindra & Mahindra (1990 to 1992), was one of the best off-ball-runners in the game, famous for his short bursts, sublime skills, and sharp voice with which he troubled many defences and umpires alike. Brooklyn, 21, on the other hand, is a silent operator. “I played as a striker and loved scoring goals. Brooklyn though is a midfielder, a playmaker, so he’s into assists or creating goals. By nature, I enjoyed being loud, both on and off the field, while Brooklyn is extremely quiet,” Edward tells mid-day as he sips on some cutting chai at a Bandra cafe on Tuesday.