Kannur: The football legend, who had enthralled people all over the world with the sheer magic of his football, Diego Armando Maradona from Argentina will live in the hearts of the football lovers across the globe. Diego Maradona had died of a cardiac attack at his house in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. As a tribute to the soccer legend, Kerala Government has officially declared a two day mourning for the demise of legendary Argentine footballer Maradona, on Thursday.
Several lakhs of soccer-crazy people had poured in from all corners of Kerala to the stadium in Kannur during Diego Maradona’s visit, 8 years ago. Won't that be reason enough to rest any raised brows on why a small South Indian State officially declares mourning for an Argentine footballer’s death? The football lovers of Kerala consider Maradona as the ‘god of football’, who mesmerises them with the magical game of football every time his feet touches the ball.
Maradona’s visit to Kerala, way back in 2012, for the inauguration of a jewellery store as its brand ambassador, turned out to be a dream come true experience for the football-crazy people of Kerala. Maradona reached Kannur, in the northern side of Kerala, on October 23 in 2012 as he was invited by Bobby Chemmannur, a jeweller and businessman.
After reaching Kannur during the wee hours on October 23, he stayed at Blue Nile Hotel. Though the programme in which he was to participate was scheduled for the next day at the Stadium in Kannur, football-crazy people, young and old, from all over had started thronging the town on the previous day itself.
Read: Obituary: Maradona, the genius who lived life on his own terms
By late evening on the previous day, the town looked like a carnival ground with people crowding all areas awaiting to get a glimpse of the ‘god of football’. Maradona fans from other districts in Kerala and other States in India had also reached Kannur. After hours of long wait by the fans, Diego Maradona showed up in an open window and waved at the crowds through the window at the hotel that he stayed in.
The Blue Nile Hotel owner, later, turned the room where Maradona had stayed then, into a Maradona museum. All the articles he had used and the pictures clicked are well preserved as if in a museum. People still visit this hotel asking for the availability of that particular room, even after 8 years since the footballer’s visit.
Stadium at Kannur was the venue for the next day’s public programme in which Maradona was the Chief Guest. Lakhs had poured into this stadium even two days before the programme, just to be able to see their ‘god’. Maradona reached the venue by noon for the programme which was originally scheduled to happen in the morning. He landed in the stadium in a helicopter amid flower showers and loud cheers.
Maradona kicked the football with his inherent rhythm, style and grace and traded headers with I M Vijayan, Kerala’s own national football player. The ball that Maradona played for a few moments got a bid price of Rs 5 lakhs, later. The ‘football god’ who left the soccer-crazy masses totally in awe, cut his birthday cake in advance as a token of his love for his fans here. When the crowds gathered shouted out ‘Happy Birthday Diego’, Maradona said in reply, ‘Viva India, Viva India, I love Kerala!’. The legend has passed away. Diego Maradona, your face is engraved in the hearts of crores of football lovers, many of whom are in Kerala. Your memories are immortal as long as there is football.
Also read: Diego Maradona leaves hospital following brain surgery
