Kolkata’s long-cherished dream of a date with the ‘Hand of God’ came true when when Diego Armando Maradona touched down at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in the early hours on Saturday.Thousands thronged roads to get a glimpse of the football legend, as a specially-designed bus ferried the Argentine to the hotel. After a marathon flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Kolkata, the 48-year-old, who came with girlfriend Veronica, was overwhelmed at the reception.“I thought there were no more surprises left in life,” said Maradona. “But my visit to Kolkata has changed that. “I had never thought I was so popular in this part of the world. I got emotional,” said the 1986 World Cup-winning captain, here on a two-day visit. Off to Maheshtala in the morning to lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School, and he was still bubbling. Clad in a grey shirt and denim trousers, he was the cynosure of all eyes. “I’m very happy to be here,” he shouted in Spanish as the fans, holding the white and blue flag of Argentina, kept shouting ‘Diego, Diego’. At the official media conference later, Maradona was still in his element. If anyone thought he had regrets about the controversial goal in the ‘86 final against England, they were in for disappointment. “The Hand of God goal is the best I have ever scored,” Maradona said. But regrets were there. “I couldn’t spend enough time with my daughters Dalma and Giannina when they were growing up.” And then came a poser, but tongue-in-cheek as he is, Maradona scored off it spectacularly. Asked who was the greatest of them all — Pele or himself — El Diego replied: “My mother considers me as the greatest. And if she thinks so, then surely I’m the greatest.”How is life as the Argentina coach? “I don’t have any pressure or tension. They are a great team, among the top four in the world. I enjoyed a lot as a footballer and now I’m utilising my experience as a coach. I cannot predict anything about the 2010 World Cup, but we have the potential to go the distance.”And who could be his trump card? “Lionel Messi is young and has time on his side. I would like to see him playing like the way I played in the 1986 World Cup.” Asked whom did he rate higher, Messi or Ronaldinho, the Argentina coach played safe. “Ronaldinho has earned a lot. Messi has the talent to reach there.”But what would be music to the ears of football fans in India was the fact that Maradona claimed he was willing to help Indian football once he is through with the Argentine national team. “After the contract is over, I would like to come back here and do something for Indian football. This morning I was talking about a project with the organisers,” he said.Can India ever produce its own Maradona? “Not impossible. But the footballers have to be given lots of attention and affection. Proper infrastructure and security are needed to help grow talent. My best wishes for Indian football,” he said.‘Terror strikes barbaric’Meanwhile, Maradona condemned the recent terror strikes in Mumbai, terming them as “barbaric”. “Common people, innocent people cannot protect themselves from such barbaric acts and fear for their lives. A person or groups take lives to create panic. They shouldn’t indulge in such acts,” he said.If thousands had turned out in the morning at the airport, fans came out in even bigger numbers — about 1.15 lakh — at a felicitation programme at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK). Defeaning cheers reverberated through the stadium as Maradona entered the arena in a Sedan. There was an exhibition football match in his honour. Maradona started off the proceedings with some juggling with the ball. Later, a wax replica of the football great was unveiled and he was presented with golden ball, golden boot and a diamond-studded trophy.In between, however, there was a minor security breach as a person slipped in through the four-tier security cover to shake hands with the legend.
