Confusion over funds for Maradona's visit

Posted: Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 2359 hrs IST
Updated: Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 2359 hrs IST

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Kolkata, Nov 20: Around Rs 8 crore will be spent in bringing Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona in Kolkata, his maiden trip to Asia. However, it is still not clear where this huge amount will come from?

Celebrity Management Group, a private event management company, in association with Uruguayan firm Balwens Group, is organising Maradona's vist to Kolkata. Dharamdutt Panday, chief executive officer of CMG, does not know who will be paying the money. "We are unaware of it as we are looking after everything but financial matters," he said.

Shamik Lahiri, CPI(M) MP from Diamond Harbour, who flew to Buenos Ayres to strike a deal with Maradona regarding the visit, too does not have any idea about it. "He (Maradona) is a diehard fan of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. That is why he is keen on coming to West Bengal, which is being ruled by the Communists for more than 30 years," Lahiri said.

According to sources, Eden City, which is developing the largest housing project at Maheshtala in south Kolkata, will pay the entire amount. Company officials, however, have denied it. Eden City is also the developer of the Indian Football School, which Maradona is set to inaugurate during his stay in Kolkata.

A highly placed official of the Indian Football Association, the parent body of football in West Bengal, said: "The sponsor will get back his money through advertisement on and off the ground, telecast rights, ticket selling and others. The revenue-sharing formula will be in place."

Meanwhile, the proposed football academy in Bardhaman, which will be jointly run by Bardhaman Sports Development Authority, the West Bengal Government and Techno India, will initially get Rs 7 crore from the state government. Though Techno India managing director Satyam Roy Chowdhury denied saying anything about the expenditure for the academy, it is learnt that the company is prepared to spend Rs 15 crore per year.

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