[ad_1]
When Raimondo Ponte (65) learns of Maradona’s death, he begins to cry. «That Diego had to die so early saddens me. Suddenly all the previous experiences and events are back. ”
It is in January 1985 when the Neapolitan Ponte lets his contacts play and after his torn ligaments he is allowed to do his rehabilitation at SSC Naples. They are happy overall, so their midfield star is back in shape at the start of training in Zurich. Ponte trained with Napoli for two months. With Diego Maradona. A few months later, the Argentine was received as a messiah by 85,000 people at the San Paolo stadium. Ponte shows a photo that shows him next to the football god in San Paolo. “The way he’s standing there, with his shoes open, that’s how he trained. Diego’s shoes happened to fly through the air. “
Raimondo Ponte, why war Maradona?
Raimondo Ponte: Diego was just a nice guy, friendly and accommodating. Every day he brought little things with him to training sessions that he distributed to everyone. Drinks, cakes or cookies.
Did you bring cake to training?
Yes. But that was just one example of his generosity. If the Napoli masseuse at that time told you who Diego helped at that time and what he did for his friends and the friends of his friends and his friends, your eyes would cry. At that time there was probably no family in Naples that had problems that Maradona did not help.
He also took advantage of him.
He was loved, adored and also taken advantage of, yes. But I didn’t realize that when I was there. For me he was someone who gave a lot, but he also had an incredible amount. You should have seen his villa. It had everything you could want. Of course, he also let a lot of people live with him.
Were you also at his house?
Yes. Everyone who wanted to see him had to go to his villa. In reality, he could only leave her to train and play because the fans had crushed him on the street. I was allowed to experience what it is like to be away from home with Diego.
You say.
When we moved to Aargau, I was eight years old. I was born and raised in Licignano, a small town about 10 kilometers from Naples Central Station. When I was playing for the GC and the national team, my childhood friends founded a small Ponte en Licignano fan club. To return the favor, I wanted to spend one night with Diego. He accepted immediately. Then it happened that I picked him up at his villa and we headed to Licignano. But now there were no steps two or three kilometers from the clubhouse. A huge crowd, jammed streets. We had to turn around.
Has it been leaked that Maradona is coming?
You could also say that. (Laughs) The reason was that I probably made a little mistake the day before and told a friend who I would take with me. For Maradona, the Neapolitans left everything behind. Diego took it easy. He said we would go another time. But unfortunately it did not come to that.
You were a player for the Swiss national team, you played for GC, Nottingham and Bastia. How was the training with Maradona?
With the ball he was in another world. I’ve often seen him juggle and have tried to do the same. I barely made it. The ball hit Diego. I couldn’t do anything compared to him!
And in race training?
Many say yes, Diego regularly skips training. When I was there, it never happened. The only difference is that he has never been there to run. But not out of laziness, but because he would have been embarrassed if he had always been downstairs. Diego made up for the drive with the pastry trainer when the others had already left. Sometimes he was still there for rehab. For me he is the best footballer of all time. I am convinced that it would be even better with today’s rules.
Why?
Only thanks to Diego, stars like Messi are today protected by the referees. Today it is unimaginable what he had to face on the field. They always covered it up and then often scrubbed it on purpose. Diego was fair play on the court, and yet he decided games without help.
Did you see Maradona again later?
Yes, whenever I came to Switzerland. For example, when he played in the UEFA Cup with Napoli against Wettingen, I visited him the day before the game in his room at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Regensdorf. We drink coffee and chat. I met Diego as a lovely boy and I will remember him that way.
