Neither the effects of the economic meltdown nor the terror-charged atmosphere could hold back soccer maniacs in Kolkata from greeting Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona in their City of Joy. From the wee hours on Friday night to under the floodlights at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday evening, Maradona got to feel why Kolkata is considered the hub of Indian soccer.
“The city proves that time is not at all a factor when welcoming footballers. Truly speaking, I am not only happy or glad, but rather pleasantly surprised with all the enthusiasm,” said Maradona at the press conference in between his visit to Maheshtala to lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School and the grand reception at the Salt Lake Stadium.
In his 31-minute press conference, Maradona patiently answered all the questions put forward to him. When asked to compare between US president George Bush and president-elect Barack Obama, he answered in his usual bold manner: “Bush is an assassin, but Obama is just the opposite. I do believe that he will do very well. We, the people of Latin America, will benefit from his plans.”
Regarding his new assignment as the coach of the
Argentine national team, Maradona said his country’s team is among the top four in the world. He said he has plenty of good players and is hopeful that the team will do well the next World Cup. He also hopes to make use of the experience he has as a player.
When asked who was the better of two current great players, Brazilian Ronaldinho and Argentine Messi,
Mardona tactfully avoided choosing either. But regarding the comparison between Pele and himself, he said: “When my mother says that I am the best, then I am the best.”
A friendly match between Chief Minister XI and
External Affairs Minister XI was held in his honour.
Personalities such as Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, state sports minister Subhash Chakraborty, state finance minister Asim Dasgupta and former football players
Chuni Goswami and PK Banerjee were present.
Besides Maradona, many other legendary footballers have visited Kolkata, among them Pele, Eusebio, Bobby Moore, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Roger Milla and Oliver Kahn.