Kolkata: It was perhaps in 1986 when football fanatics of Kolkata got to see football World Cup on screen. Its impact was far greater than any other World Cups.
Kolkata's love for football was already folklore in Indian sports and in 1986 Mexico World Cup its passion for the game grew manifold. Watching sports on television became a household affair following India's historic 1983 cricket World Cup victory at the Lord's.
Buoyant by independent India's first major success at the world stage, sports activities grabbed the attention of the youths. Football in Kolkata was already a big thing around the same time. The rivalries among Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Club were the main sporting attractions of the 'City of Joy'.
To add to the euphoria of city's football-loving people, Diego Armando Maradona, a veteran of two World Cups, mesmerised them with his skills in 1986. His magic work on the pitch made him captivating, talismanic and charismatic to watch. His mindblowing performance in Mexico left people divided. Just like many other places in the world, El Diego drew an invisible line right through the middle of Kolkata. He won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina almost singlehandedly.
Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in the quarter-final and his dash from the midfield thereafter that saw him scoring the "Goal of the Century" against the same opponent, England, made him a demi-god to his fans. His brilliance was not limited to just one game alone. The Argentine left Belgium's heavily guarded defense baffled in a game that saw defenders haplessly trying to stop him only to fail.
This World Cup brought the importance of individual brilliance in football alive that saw a plethora of players earning fame for themselves thereafter, thanks to their skills.
The 1986 World Cup left an everlasting impression on the minds of people of Bengal. Kolkata got divided into two fan groups. While one is fond of Brazil, another leans towards Argentina, a new force in the global game to be reckoned with. It was purely based on their liking for the style of football these two Latin American teams play.
Since that Mexico World Cup, Maradona found a permanent place in the hearts of the people of eastern India city. Their love for the man, whose name was taken in the same breath with Pele, football's first global superstar, was in every respect; absolute.
Maradona's demise on Wednesday created an emptiness in the city. The Argentine found admirers in footballers, politicians and as well in the fans in Kolkata. We, as a country, may not belong to the elite groups of football paying nations, but our love for football was absolute. Only recently, the city has lost its one of the most loved film actors Soumitra Chatterjee, and now within ten days after his passing away, Maradona left the city devastated. It was indeed a blow to the people of Kolkata. Stories about Maradona's inspiring football skills are a commonality there. Many young boys become fans of Argentina listening to the stories about Maradona from their father, grandfather or uncle.
Now as the legend, the link between Kolkata and Buenos Aires, passed away, if someone cares about football can notice that the city has lost one of its favourite sporting icons. From social media posts to city's leading dailies all have paid emotional tributes and come up with anecdotes about the legend. Their love for Maradona was unconditional.
The desire to get a glimpse of Maradona was sky-rocketing when the superstar visited Kolkata in 2008 for the first time. In the wee hours of December 6 night, Maradona landed at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. An estimated 50,000 people were waiting outside to see him, to give him a warm reception.
Nevertheless, Maradona was awestruck to see such a sea of people waiting for him for hours under the chilly December night sky. Wherever he went masses followed him. “I am overwhelmed that so many people know and love me in this part of the world. I have been surprised many times in my life and thought I cannot be surprised again. But today I have realised that there is more in store for me. I love the passion people have for football here and I will love to be back,” the legend had told a media conference a day later.
That winter saw Maradona attending an exhibition match at the Salt Lake Stadium. Later he visited iconic Mohun Bagan tent at the Maidan and met then West Bengal Cheif Minister Jyoti Basu. It was a meeting between two renowned communists. Basu was Bengal's longest-serving chief minister and he belonged to the CPIM party, while Maradona, a self-confessed leftist, was an admirer of communist leaders like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. It was not known what they discussed in that meeting though.
Maradona also paid a visit to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity headquarters on AJC Bose Road. But among all these events, the biggest attraction was the exhibition match at the Salt Lake stadium. The 1 lakh 30 thousand capacity stadium was full in attendance of common people and VIPs alike. All were there for Maradona and their eyes were fixed on him. But the man was desperate to avoid all the chaos around him and watch the game instead.
At the Mohun Bagan tent, Maradona made his way to the centre of the field and was intrigued to see the footballs there. The superstar, who was once famous for his juggling skills, didn't disappoint spectators either. He spent 30 minutes displaying his skills and kicking the balls into the stands.
His visit to Missionaries of Charity saw an emotional Maradona, but it was understandable as he never liked to hide his emotions.
Maradona visited Kolkata once again in 2017 but the euphoria and buzz of 2008 were special to the citizens of the city. After Pele's 1977 visit to Kolkata as a player of New York Cosmos, it was Maradona's visit that had created a huge frenzy in the capital of West Bengal.
-- By Sudipta Biswas
