Maradona brings joy to Kolkata

Football icon Diego Armando Maradona blows a kiss to his fans at Maheshtala in Kolkata on Saturday where he also laid the foundation stone of the Indian Football School.

The former Argentina captain arrived to a rousing welcome at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport by thousands of frenzied fans who remained awake till past mid night waving Argentina's national flag of white and sky blue.

Blowing kisses in the air and waving to the crowd, the 48-year-old Argentine said he had not anticipated that his two-day visit would evoke such a huge response.

Maradona shows his famous left foot to his fans in Kolkata.

"I had no idea that football enjoyed so much fan following in this part of the world far from my home in South America," the legend said.

"My country is far from here, but I never knew I have so many fans here," he added.

The nimble-footed football wizard is slated to attend a host of programmes for the next two days, beginning with the stone-laying function of the Indian Football School (IFS).

Maradona would next visit the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity, 11 years after the passing of the "apostle of peace", like other foreign dignitaries including former US President Bill Clinton.

In the afternoon, the Argentine will proceed to Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK) at Salt Lake where an exhibition match between Chief Minister's XI and External Affairs Ministry XI has been organised.

The Argentine soccer legend will also conduct a football clinic at the Mohun Bagan ground in Kolkata for Under-12 boys on Sunday. This will be yet another honour for the 119-year-old city outfit, which raised nationalist spirits during the freedom struggle against British rule by becoming the first ever Indian club to win the IFA Shield in 1911.
In a cheerful mood, with girl friend Veronica by his side, the legend signed autographs for children and shook hands with fans. "Maradona is God to us. Till now we have just heard about him. By seeing him in person we are blessed," gushed an admirer just after catching a glimpse of the legend.
Maradona would be showered with gifts, among which are golden replica of the stadium, and a left foot with a football. The entire trip will cost a whopping Rs 11 crore and is being organised by Shamik Lahiri, event manager Celebrity Management Group (CMG), and the state government.

t Tempted by the mind-blowing atmosphere, Maradona took the field, dribbling and passing the ball as the players made a huddle around him.Maradona then unveiled his life-size wax statue made by Asansol artist Sushanta Roy. Impressed with the work, he hugged his life-size statue and tried to replicate it. In between, with rapt attention, he along with his girl friend Veronica watched the 30-minute exhibition match between Bhaichung Bhutia-led External Affairs Minister's XI and Dulal Biswas-led Chief Minister's XI who went down courtesy an own goal by Habibur Rahaman Mondal in the second-half.
Describing his visit to India something which he would cherish forever, Maradona said he would like to come here again to spend sometime with his family.

"I am very happy to be in Kolkata. I am very emotional at the moment, seeing all of you. I have not imagined in my life that in this part of the world there will be so many people to see me. I would like to thank the people who have brought me here and I would like to return here with my family."

He added this was the best reception he has ever got. "I've received many laurels in life and hence I had stopped to think that there would be many more laurels but the Indian reception changed my notion. Today I've learnt that there is more to come."