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Boyan's inspiring love for football

Blog - 26 January 2010

We first heard about Boyan through his dad Jan Ronda. In CAFE’s early days, Jan contacted us because he wanted to watch a live Liverpool match: “I wanted to ask you if you can help us in contacts with Liverpool so we can make Boyan's dream to go to Liverpool come through.”

Of course we could only point Boyan and his dad in the right direction at the club for tickets which we did immediately. However, we were very inspired by Boyan’s story and we immediately wanted to know more about him.

Boyan is a very active 13 year old who also happens to have a degenerative muscular condition called Duchene which only effects boys. It’s caused by the absence of a substance called “Dystrofine” causing the muscles to get weaker and weaker with deteriorating mobility eventually leading to the need to use a wheelchair to get around. There isn’t yet a known cure for the degenerative disease, Duchene Muscular Dystrophy also known as DMD.

Boyan is a massive football fan and he knows a lot about it. And because of that, he and his father Jan have been travelling all over Europe to see matches, sometimes meeting famous players along the way. He’s been invited into a number of dressing rooms across Europe and has had the pleasure of giving some pre-match advice to the likes of Rooney, Thierry Henri, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo!

We asked him a few questions...

What team do you support? And why?

My father and I have a season ticket for ADO Den Haag. But Ajax is also my club in Holland. My international team is Barcelona because they play the football I like (Messi, Xavi, Iniesta)

How old were you when you attended your first football match? And what is your memory of that moment?

I think I was nine years old and the first player I was fond of was Robbie Keane.

You’ve been travelling a lot with your dad to watch football matches. Which was the best football match you’ve been to and why?

We’ve been to a lot of clubs and all were very special because my dad always contacts the clubs and we’ve been really lucky with VIP treatment and sometimes getting to meet the players. But the best one was the game we saw in Barcelona against Deportivo. Ronaldinho scored the first goal and I was so excited to be there. We also met the president Laporte, a very nice and warm man. He gave me a Barcelona pin and said that I would become a member of the Barcelona clan.

What was the most special / magical moment of your life?

All the trips I did with my dad are special. Nice hotels, attend a good match, meeting players like Kaka, Maldini, Rooney, Sneijder, Ibrahimovic, Giggs, Eto'o, Puyol and so on. It’s all been fantastic! But maybe my special moment is still coming or has to come...

How do you think football clubs could improve their facilities and services for disabled fans?

I hope that CAFE can bring their influence across Europe. My father is already in contact with ADO Den Haag and because of CAFE’s work, they are already making changes there and they’re listening to his ideas. For instance, it is really important to have chairs for the carers of the disabled people, so my father can sit next to me now. We also need to be able to get to the refreshment bars to get drinks and snacks. There is still a lot to do, but I'm sure there will be progress.

If you could change anything about football, what would it be?

I’d like to see a back up for the referees - television pictures at the side of the field maybe - so he can see or somebody tell him if he needs help to make the right decision.

Boyan’s father, Jan Ronda, has been in contact with ADO Den Haag to improve their stadia facilities and CAFE has been providing some support. He is very active and enthusiastic about this cause and a great inspiration to us all at CAFE. We wish Boyan and Jan a great season and many happy football journeys.

If you would like to share your experiences with other fans

please drop a line to info@cafefootball.eu. 

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