Hungry for success in soccer for decades, India, perhaps, needed Maradona, needed his “Hand of God”, to rise in a spectacularly popular sport that was made more popular by the magic of the Argentine that will always resonate in the times. .
Many will remember the way he swung, slid and slalomed during his historic 1986 World Cup win in Mexico.
Many in the ‘City of Joy’ will recall how a bulky little version of Maradona huffed and puffed during a charity soccer game here three years ago.
He played a cricket demigod in Sourav Ganguly, who was one of the first to react to his death in Buenos Aires saying that he lost his hero.
The Argentine legend, who was 57 years old when he arrived here, had managed to dribble, show glimpses of his left-handed right hand and even hum songs in Spanish, while sweating with a bunch of schoolchildren and saying goodbye with the promise of “bringing football India.
In December 2017, he appeared in shorts, enjoying every bit of the maddening attention even though the grueling session literally drained him when they saw him drenched in sweat, pouring water all over his head.
But he had no complaints and was eloquent in his three-minute Spanish speech.
“I am here for football … It is a big step that we take to improve football in India,” he said of his private three-day trip that was co-sponsored by a local politician and others for almost nine years. after your first visit to the city.
“The country really has good players and a soccer school for boys. Soccer wants India and India wants soccer.”
“Together with the people we will bring football. I have always been very well received in India. Thank you and kiss!” he had said goodbye, never to return.
He also thanked his many die-hard fans with photographs and didn’t mind sitting on the field to get that perfect frame.
He then headed straight for the crowded galleries and surprised his fans by throwing soccer balls into the air.
Encouraged by a delusional crowd, Maradona then hummed a couple of songs.
Not surprisingly, India reacted with shock, anger and sadness after her heart stopped beating on Wednesday.
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