I will surely be back in India

Diego Maradona

Sunday, 14 December , 2008, 14:29

The greatest tribute to a former player is the immense adulation he receives long after retiring from the game. The crowd that had gathered at the Kolkata airport at 2 in the morning came as quite a shock to me, and to say that I was completely overwhelmed would be an understatement.

Kolkata is considered the home of Indian football, with an unrelenting passion for the sport that is partially comparable to the ardent fervour of fans in South America. India is one country that I have always wanted to visit, and the tireless efforts of the West Bengal government, and their excellent planning made this visit possible.

Maradona gets a tumultuous welcome in Kolkata

India has been an enigma on the world football stage, as it baffles many that a country of close to 1.2 billion people does not feature on the world football map. It would also surprise many that India has an impressive football history, as three professional football clubs in Kolkata have been in existence long before FIFA was formed.

I had a packed schedule in Kolkata, and the love of the people at my official felicitation is something I will always cherish for a long time to come. The football crazy city of Kolkata seemed to be extremely knowledgeable about the sport, and I must confess that they knew more about my football exploits than I would have ever imagined. When the young boy touched my feet on the podium, it left a lump in my throat and it's a gesture that my family and I will never forget.

There are few stadiums in world football that accommodate over a 100 000 people, and when I entered the Salt Lake in Kolkata for the exhibition game, the pulsating sound of 120 000 fans was unbelievable to say the least. As I glanced across the stands, I was amazed to see people sitting on the ledges and the roofs, clearly underlining the passion for the sport. The ovation and the cheers that greeted a few of my football tricks reminded me of the deafening noises in Argentina when Boca Juniors took the field.

It's great that a top corporate house like McDowell's are doing their bit for football in Kolkata, with constant financial support and partnerships, which are crucial for the development of the game. McDowell's No.1 Celebration's association with Mohan Bagan, and their wonderful initiative with the Futsal Friendzy is bound to aid football in an already passionate environment. As more top corporate houses come forward to support the game, Indian football will only get stronger.

I felt extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity of visiting Mother Teresa's Ashram and meeting all her disciples, who are playing an important role in society.

I will surely be back in India, and will continue to contribute to the development of football in every possible way. The soccer school I inaugurated will be a great incentive for more kids to play football, and I hope to see some more budding talent when I return to Kolkata. 'Dhonnobad', Kolkata!

Professional Management Group
SOURCE: http://sify.com/sports/fullstory.php?id=14818163

‘Whoever is Castro’s friend across the world is also my friend’,” Maradona told Jyoti Basu

Kolkata, Dec 7, 2008: Frenzied Kolkatans didn’t seem to have enough of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona as he visited the Mother House here to pay obeisance to Mother Teresa and later called on Marxist icon Jyoti Basu, crowding both venues for a glimpse of the star and screaming themselves hoarse with their slogans.On the second day of his visit to the city, Maradona lit a candle at Mother Teresa’s tomb, participated in a prayer session with the sisters of the order, and shook hands with the orphan children to fulfil a wish that he has nurtured for years.

And from all accounts, Maradona and Basu got along famously - thanks to their common “friend”, Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

“Viva Maradona”, “Maradona, Maradona”, shouted frenzied fans as he went to pay homage at the tomb of Mother Teresa - the Catholic nun revered worldwide as the Apostle of Peace.Maradona spent half-an-hour at the Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa in South Kolkata.

“I wanted to see what Mother Teresa has done in this city. So I want to utilise this trip to visit the Mother House,” Maradona said Saturday, disclosing why he had agreed to come to the city.
Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, is known for her monumental work among the underprivileged.

Clad in a black T-shirt and jeans, Maradona arrived in a silver-white Mercedes at Mother House to deafening cheers from thousands of people who waited for hours on the streets and had perched themselves precariously on trees and walls of nearby buildings for a glimpse of the soccer genius.

He waved and threw flying kisses, as nuns of the order, draped in blue-white sarees received him on the narrow ally leading to the Mother House. Once inside the courtyard of the building, Maradona and his girlfriend Veronica were welcomed with a blue-white garland by the sisters, who also seemed to enjoy every bit of their interaction with the soccer superstar.

Evidently in high spirits, Maradona went round the building, and met the young orphans - some of them mentally challenged. He patted the infants on the head and kissed and embraced them before proceeding to the room where the Mother’s grave lies. Hands clasped, Maradona stood silently before the tomb and then lit a candle as the sisters chanted prayers.

Pindrop silence descended on the room once the prayers ended, as Maradona seemed to soak in the serenity of the place. He then knelt down and kissed the white marble of the tomb. Before leaving, Maradona went back to the children. “Bye, bye”, he said. Outside, soccer fans sporting Argentine jerseys tried to break the barricade put up by the security personnel deployed in strength.

“I want to touch his feet - his left foot, and see what it is made of,” said a youth. “If he doesn’t mind, I want to embrace him. Can you help me?” was another young Maradona fan’s plea to a scribe. Maradona called on Basu later in the day.

“Maradona told Basu, ‘I (Maradona) am a friend of Fidel Castro, and you (Basu) are a friend of Castro too’,” West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty told mediapersons waiting outside Basu’s home in North 24-Parganas district. “He further said ‘Whoever is Castro’s friend across the world is also my friend’,” Chakraborty added.

The football hero met the nonagenarian politician for 10 minutes, but disappointed his fans who waited in hundreds outside Basu’s residence. Lending a communist hue to Maradona’s visit to Kolkata, the organisers had arranged for a tete-a-tete between him and Basu. Maradona, a great admirer of Castro, readily agreed to call on Basu at his residence after seeing a photograph of the former chief minister with Castro.

The photo, showing Castro and Basu standing side by side, was taken in 1973 when the former Cuban president visited the city. It was sent to Maradona about 10 days ago by the organisers of his visit. Kolkata, the soccer crazy hub of India, had accorded a tumultuous welcome to the hero of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup triumph since he landed in the city in the wee hours Saturday.

More than 50,000 exuberant fans spent a sleepless night as they assembled at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and lined the route of his convoy upto the hotel. Around 80,000 people turned up Saturday afternoon at the giant Salt Lake stadium, where Maradona was felicitated. He also laid the foundation stone of the Indian Football School at Maheshtala, 13 km south of the city.

Diego floored by Maradona chant in Kolkata

Kolkata:07 December 2008, Sunday:THE LONG cherished dream of football-crazy Bengalis to get a glimpse of the football legend, Diego Armando Maradona was fulfilled when the world-famous former Argentine soccer star touched the soil of West Bengal at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in the wee hours on Saturday (December 6).

Lakhs of people thronged roads to have a glimpse of their dream player, who along with his girl friend, Veronica, arrived at a five star hotel by a specially designed bus from the airport. The journey of the soccer legend to Maheshtala in Kolkata, where he later laid the foundation stone for the Indian Football School, was adorned with the Argentine flag and the welcome note in Spanish – ’Beinvenido dios del futbal’ (Welcome to the Prince of football). Here he was gifted a portrait of Che Guevara, drawn by a school boy, whom Maradona hugged and kissed too.

The West Bengal state government arranged for a grand felicitation of Diego at the state’s famous Yubabharati Krirangan (YBK) Stadium in Salt Lake, in the evening. The presence of 80,000 football lovers just to have a view of their football-hero bewildered Maradona, who expressed his gratitude to the crazy football fans. Diego, being amazed at such a grand reception, shouted in Spanish, “I have never imagined that football is followed so passionately here and I have so many fans.

I had no idea I’ve so many fans in India: Maradona

KOLKATA: Dec 07, 2008: Kolkata Soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona said on that he was surprised by the response of the crazy fans who thronged in thousands to have a glimpse of him as he laid the foundation stone of a football school at Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas district on Saturday.

Blowing kisses in the air and waving to the crowd, the 48-year-old Argentine, dressed in a grey shirt and matching trouser, said he had not anticipated that his two-day visit would evoke such a huge response.

"I had no idea that football enjoyed so much fan following in this part of the world far from my home in South America," the soccer star said. "My country is far from here, but I never knew I have so many fans here," he said as the crowd kept shouting 'Diego, Diego'.

The soccer icon spoke to reporters for just two minutes in Spanish with the help of an interpreter. The Indian Football School is being developed by the Maheshtala Municipality in collaboration with a private company.

Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup triumph in 1986, had flown into the eastern metropolis in the wee hours of Saturday to a tumultuous welcome. In a cheerful mood, with girl friend Veronica by his side, the legend signed autographs for children and shook hands with fans.
Maradona then proceeded to leave an imprint of his dreaded left foot, which tore open defences all over the world, on a slab of plaster of Paris for posterity.

He took off his shoes, rolled up his trouser and then pressed his left foot firmly into the plaster as the crowd cheered. A replica of the Taj Mahal was presented to him as also a portrait of revolutionary Che Guevara. Before winding up his visit, the legend picked up a football thrown at him, balanced it delicately on his leg for a moment before kicking it back into the crowd which went delirious.

West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty was also present on the occasion. Earlier, Maradona and his entourage flew in a helicopter from the metropolis to the venue of the function.

Bush an 'assassin', Castro has been a great influence on me: Maradona

KOLKATA, 6 December: US President George W Bush is a "bit of an assassin" but his successor Barack Obama will, hopefully, do a good job, football legend Diego Maradona said on Saturday.

"I would like to think of George Bush as a bit of an assassin. I like this change. I welcome this change," Maradona said at his first media conference in India when asked to comment on US president-elect Obama.

Maradona, who is on a short visit to Kolkata, "I like Obama a lot. I think he will do a good job," Maradona said. Known for his strong anti-US views, the legend has in the past opposed US military operations and spoken out against its policy towards Communist Cuba.

Speaking about his friendship with Fidel Castro, Cuba's ruler till recently whom he idolises, Maradona said: "I have shared a lot of cigars with him. We have talked about politics and football. He has been a great influence on me."

Diego Maradona arrives to a rousing welcome in Kolkata

KOLKATA, 6 December: "God of football" Diego Armando Maradona arrived on a two-day visit to Kolkata early Saturday and was welcomed by thousands of Kolkatans who gave sleep a miss and lined the roads for a glimpse of the Argentinian.

People waved flags of India and Argentina, danced to the tune of foot-tapping Latin American music and raised slogans eulogising the football legend who touched down at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport at 1.25 am. Kolkata, cricket crazy India's soccer crazy hub, saw passions run high as more than 50 thousand sports buffs assembled at the airport, and various street junctions leading to the hotel on the Eastern Metropolitan bypass where Maradona would put up. It was a carnival atmosphere as the milling crowd held aloft cut-outs of the footballer, and carried posters welcoming him in multiple languages - English, Hindi, Bengali and even Spanish. From old infirm men to children not yet in their teens, from able-bodied youth to bashful housewives - everyone seemed to have hit the streets. "I have been waiting for more than an hour. I am a great fan of Maradona," said housewife Ratna Sen, who had travelled 25 km to be a part of the occasion. The diminutive 1.65m hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup triumph was welcomed at the tarmac of the airport by West Bengal sports minister Subhas Chakraborty and the organisers with flowers. "Maradona is a phenomenon. This is a momentous occasion. It's the raw passion for soccer which has brought so many people on the roads," said former India international footballer and Arjuna awardee Prasun Banerjee, waiting on a city street.

More than 5000 policemen, including the Rapid Action Force and crack commandos were deployed on the entire route of Maradona's convoy to prevent any breach of peace. A couple of over-enthusiastic teenagers were seen climbing lamp posts near the airports to hoist Argentine flags, forcing the security personnel to step in and bring them down. On Saturday morning, Maradona would begin his schedule by flying out in a helicopter to the facility of one of the sponsors before laying the foundation stone of the Maradona Indian Football School at Mahestala, 13 km south of the city.

Maradona, accompanied by his girlfriend Veronica, would also be felicitated at Maheshtala before returning to his hotel for a media meet that would be followed by the felicitation at the giant Salt Lake Stadium in the afternoon. "It will be a programme worth remembering for years. Don't miss the start and the end," said Chakraborty.

Maradona would kick-start a match between Foreign Minister's XI and Chief Minister's XI, where players turning out for various teams would take part. Among those seen in action would Bhaichung Bhutia and Jose Barreto. Later, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would inaugurate the felicitation proper. Maradona would be showered with gifts, among which are golden replica of the stadium, and a left foot with a football. He would also go around the stadium in the bus, before the function concludes with a pyrotechnic display.

On Sunday, Maradona would visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. He would also call on former state chief minister and communist patriarch Jyoti Basu at his Salt Lake residence. Maradona would conduct a soccer clinic at the Mohun Bagan ground later in the day, before wrapping up his visit with a charity dinner at the hotel. Five jerseys and footballs autographed by the soccer star would come under the hammer at the dinner, the proceeds of which would go to the IFS.

Packed programme awaits Maradona

KOLKATA, 5th December, 2008: The most famous yet controversial football player ever to visit Kolkata — Diego Maradona — will have to be contending with two days of programme that will take him crisscrossing the City and its neighbourhood.

The Argentine National coach will be arriving in the wee hours of Saturday. He will spend almost 48 hours in the City and attend a number of programmes including a visit to the Mother Teresa House on the second day.

The legendry footballer will open the tour with a visit to the south-western part of the City to lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School. He will follow it up with a media conference at his hotel and later will go to the Salt Lake Stadium to witness a match and to accept a felicitation.
The second day’s programme will begin with a visit to Mother House and from there he will visit the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, at the latter’s Salt Lake residence and wind up his outdoor activity by visiting the century-old National Club of India, Mohun Bagan.

His final function in the city will be to attend a charity dinner where a number of his memorabilia will be auctioned and the proceeds donated to the needy football players.

Maradona to arrive in Kolkata on December 5

Kolkata,10 Nov,2008:

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona will lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School (IFS) besides participating at a charity dinner during his visit to the city December 5-7.

Announcing Maradona's itinerary in the city, Lok Sabha MP Samik Lahiri said the present Argentine coach would arrive at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in the city on the night December 5.

After laying the foundation stone of the IFS in Maheshtala , about 13 km south of the city December 6, Maradona would meet the press - his first ever media interaction after becoming the Argentina coach.

The West Bengal government and the soccer fraternity would felicitate the superstar in the evening at the Salt lake Stadium, where all former soccer internationals of India would be invited. Maradona's programme for the day ends with a charity dinner, where some of his football gears would come under the hammer.

The hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup victory is scheduled to visit Mother House, the global headquarters of Missionaries of Charity the next day, before attending a football clinic with youngsters, Lahiri told reporters on Monday. Maradona would leave for home the same night. To a query, he said Maradona could not play now, as he was a FIFA-registered coach. Lahiri also refused to disclose the remuneration Maradona has asked for his appearance.

The soccer genius is likely to be accompanied by his estranged wife Claudia, who played a big role in arranging the meeting between him and the organisers which made the visit possible. Asked what benefit would accrue to the country from the visit, Lahiri said: "The presence of the soccer master will definitely inspire and motivate the youngsters, who have grown up watching his exploits on the soccer field through video".

Lahiri said the ambitious IFS project would start by choosing 20 talented youngsters below the age of 10 from various clinics. The cadets would be coached by a former national level player, who would undergo a coaches' training in a reputed Latin American soccer academy.

After three years of training, the total number of youngsters would be pruned down to 40 (three batches combined). Once the shortlisted charges become 18, efforts would be made to place them in the leagues of various Latin American and European countries.

"Initially, we can't find slots for them in the premier divisions, but I think placing them in lower divisions should be possible," he said. He exuded confidence that if the project succeeded, the country would get 100 players with the experience of playing at the international level. West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty said the state government would play the role of facilitator for Maradona's visit.