A family that stays together and plays together

It is an all family affair. Father Patrick (footballer), mother Zennath (athlete), sister Pauline (volleyball) and son Berddinent Carlem Joseph (Cammy) a basketball. This is the story of UBA basketball player fondly addressed as Cammy.

Cammy, a Southern Railways employee dons the colours of Chennai is proud that it has been sports which runs in his entire family. "Yes, I am delighted as everyone is a sports person in my family,” said Cammy while talking to Sportskeeda.

It was his father Patrick, a well-known footballer from the state. He has been a member of the stateside in all the national championships including the prestigious Santosh Trophy. Mother, Zeenath an athlete and not gone beyond the district levels, while his sister Pauline spiker has been active.

So, why did Cammy take up basketball, despite his father being a well-known footballer?

"My father after hanging his boots in the game was an active member in the association. I was also a better football player because of him being the officer bearer he wanted me to take put any other sport but not football,” said Cammy and went on to add that despite his talent in football there are people who would always say that I am in the team because my father is the officer bearer, which he did not want, the normal tendency in Indian athletes.

It has been over 10 years, Cammy has been on the basketball court other than in a football. Cammy was outstanding in football during his school days and even won a couple of individual awards such as the best striker and the player of the match. “No, regrets. In the beginning it was tough, but as I took up basketball seriously and with nobody interfering things were good for me and took a liking for the game, and today I am here, one of the top playes in the country,” said Cammy who has also been the member of the Indian side at the World Railways championship.