Maradona surprised by response from fans in India
“It has been beyond my imagination,” a visibly moved Maradona told reporters through an interpreter.
“I did not know that I had so many fans in India and people of the country loved football so much,” he said after laying the foundation stone for a football academy on the outskirts of the city.
“India lacks the infrastructure for football but the players should also work hard for their success.” The Indians rank a lowly 144th in world football with cricket being the most popular sport.
Maradona, on his first-ever visit to the country, rated his ‘Hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup as his best moment of his life.
The Argentinian famously punched the ball into the net for the opening goal of a 2-1 quarterfinal victory against England, leading to his instant glory back home and villification by English fans.
Maradona, recently appointed as coach of Argentina, said he was already looking forward to visiting India again.
“I have a contract with Argentina’s national football team and once it’s over I will think of coming to India.” Maradona, 48, arrived in this football-mad eastern Indian city early on Saturday to a rousing welcome by some 50,000 fans, desperate to catch a glimpse of the legend.
The fans jostled and almost ran over the barricades at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport as the 5,000-strong security team tried to control the surging crowd.
“Long Live India! We want you to play in the World Cup,” Maradona, flanked by his girlfriend Veronica, shouted back to the delirious fans.Doubts were cast over Maradona’s visit following the recent devastating Mumbai attacks that killed 163 people including 26 foreigners.
“It’s barbaric. We can’t event think of something like this in a civilized society,” Maradona said of the Mumbai carnage.
Maradona is also slated to visit the global headquarters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity order here on Sunday during his two-day trip.—AFP