Diego Maradona: Visiting Calcutta in the first weekend of December
Posted By:
vflasch
Posted:
December, 04 2008
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 Diego Maradona: Visiting Calcutta in the first weekend of December
Maradona is coming to Calcutta (Kolkata), the historical capital of India, the cultural capital of India at present, the 'City of Joy', studded with football lovers, and many tournaments on and often. The world famous Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona would lay the foundation stone of the Indian Football School (IFS) besides participating at a charity dinner during his visit to the city Dec 5-7.
After laying the foundation stone of the IFS, about 13 km south of the city Dec 6, Diego Maradona would meet the press - his first ever media interaction after becoming the Argentina coach.
The West Bengal government and the soccer fraternity would felicitate the superstar in the evening at the Salt lake Stadium, where all former soccer internationals of India would be invited.
Diego Maradona’s programme for the day ends with a charity dinner, where some of his football gears would come under the hammer.
The reporters were informed on Monday that, the hero of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory is scheduled to visit Mother House, the global headquarters of Missionaries of Charity (of Mother Teresa) the next day, before attending a football clinic with youngsters.
Diego Maradona would leave for home the same night.
To a query, he said Maradona could not play now, as he was a FIFA-registered coach. The remuneration of Maradona for his appearance was also refused to be disclosed.
Soccer genius Diego Maradona is likely to be accompanied by his estranged wife Claudia, who played a big role in arranging the meeting between him and the organisers which made the visit possible.  Asked what benefit would accrue to the country from the visit, one of the authorities has said: “The presence of the soccer master will definitely inspire and motivate the younsgers, who have grown up watching his exploits on the soccer field through video”. He added that, the ambitious IFS project would start by choosing 20 talented youngsters below the age of 10 from various clinics. The cadets would be coached by a former national level player, who would undergo a coaches’ training in a reputed Latin American soccer academy.
After three years of training, the total number of youngsers would be pruned down to 40 (three batches combined). Once the shorlisted charges become 18, efforts would be made to place them in the leagues of various Latin American and European countries.
“Initially, we can’t find slots for them in the premier divisions, but I think placing them in lower divisions should be possible,” the delegate said.
It has been hoped that, if the project succeeded, the country would get 100 players with the experience of playing at the international level.
West Bengal Sports Minister has also said that, the state government would play the role of falicitator for Diego Maradona’s visit.  |
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