Sport | Football
India gets a taste of Maradona mania
Thousands turn out to catch a glimpse of soccer legend as he visits a soccer school in Kolkata
- IANS
- Published: 23:53 December 6, 2008
Kolkata: Diego Maradona came, saw and conquered a city that poured out in multitudes to see and honour him.
Thousands of soccer-crazy fans thronged Maheshtala, in the southern fringes of the city, to watch the Argentinian legend lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School.
An estimated 30,000 people had thronged the airport in the early hours to receive the 48-year-old newly appointed coach of Argentina, who was accompanied by his girlfriend Veronica.
Clad in denims, Maradona seemed in high spirits, as he clapped, threw flying kisses and waved at the crowd, who waited anxiously for 40 minutes as the soccer great was late in leaving the hotel for the venue.
Best wishes
He was flown in from the hotel in a chopper to a helipad a few kilometres from the venue at Batanagar and then was driven in a specially designed bus with large fibre-glass windows to enable people to get a glimpse of the legend, who was visiting the city for the first time.
Maradona spent 30 minutes at the complex, which is also named after him.
One hundred children displayed ball juggling skills and sang songs to welcome the Argentine, who shook hands with fans.
Seeming to enjoy every minute of the festive spirit, Maradona unveiled the foundation stone with a press of a button and then touched it.
"Best wishes. India is far off from my country, but I had no idea I have so many fans here," Maradona said in a brief speech towards the end of the programme.
"I had no idea that such beautiful football is played here, people love football so much. Long live India."
Maradona also gave an imprint of his famous left foot, which will be preserved. He kicked a ball, and mingled with the crowd for a few minutes before leaving the venue.
"This was a lifetime opportunity for me to see Maradona. He is the world's best footballer," fan Shankar Maitro said.
Were you a Maradona fan? Are you surprised that he still commands tremendous fanfare? Do the controversies surrounding him add to his allure?
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