Nigel D’Souza, son of legendary Olympian Neville D’Souza — the first Asian player to score a hat-trick at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics — expressed relief after the Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the BMC to refrain from taking any further steps on its general body’s decision to change the reservation of the Neville D’Souza football ground in Bandra from a playground to a convention centre.

“I am so happy and relieved,” Nigel told mid-day, reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding the ground. “It was quite worrying and pretty dicey. Under no circumstances should the ground be given away; it must stay,” he added. Highlighting the acute shortage of open spaces in the city, Nigel said losing the ground would deal a heavy blow to grassroots football.