Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona dazzles in a football clinic in Barasat

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Kolkata: It was once in a lifetime opportunity for budding footballers of the Aditya School of Sports on Tuesday as soccer legend Diego Maradona spent quality time in a football clinic organised by the organisers. The former world cup winning captain dribbled, showed glimpses of his deft left-footer and even crooned Spanish songs, as the Argentine legend sweated it out with a bunch of school children and bid them adieu with a promise to “bring football” to India.

The workshop was attended by 60 school children including girls, at ASOS in Kadambagachi on the outskirts of Barasat about 35 kilometres from Kolkata.

The 57-year-old who turned up in shorts enjoyed every bit of it and the gruelling session literally drained him as he was seen drenched in sweat, pouring water on his head.

The Argentine soccer legend in his brief speech in Spanish said, “I’m here for football… It is a big step, that we take with the minister — to uplift football in India.”

He also added, “The country really has good players and a football school of boys. Your minister and I must stop this notion that football wants India and India wants football.

“Together with the minister and the people we will bring football. I have always been very well received in India. Thanks and kiss!” he signed off.

Maradona, who led Argentina to winning the coveted FIFA World Cup in 1986, was seen interacting with the kids. The 57 year old was also seen seating on the ground and chatting with the young talents.

Over to the session, and Maradona was seen shouting and making the ‘young guns’ make two queues as he played passes to them for them to shoot from the spot. The boys and girls came one by one and tried out their skills and even few of them were seen dribbling past the 1986 World Cup hero, in some memorable moments.

Maradona was visibly ecstatic and could not control his emotions and tried out his left-footers, enthralling about seven thousand-odd crowd and also kicked a few footballs at the stands.

The workshop began around 1.15pm with former footballers including the likes of Shyam Thapa, Debjit Ghosh, Sisir Ghosh among others as it the remote place wore a festive look with flags of various nations adorning the streets.

Maradona was also involved in a crooning session. He was seen walking upto the Kochi-based Spanish singer Charles Anthony who was singing some Spanish songs and joining him.

However, much to the disappointment of the sponsors and crowds the football match between Sourav Ganguly and Maradona did not take place. Maradona could not take the field due to fatigue and tiredness.

The Argentine soccer legend was seen hugging the former India captain before the start of the exhibition match.

“It would have been great had Maradona played. He had an injury, so he could not play. He is too good a player. Age has caught up with him now, but even then watching him from close quarters is a treat,” Ganguly told reporters after the match.

Former India footballers Shyam Thapa, Prasun Banerjee, Dipendu Biswas, Sisir Ghosh, Biswajit Bhattacharya, Alvito D’Cunha were among those who took part in the match along with Bengal cricket captain Manoj Tiwary and fast bowler Shib Shankar Paul. Maradona was seen engaging with the Aditya School of Sports students

It was Maradona’s second visit to Kolkata. His earlier visit to the City of Joy was in December 2008.