Sport

Maradona pays homage to Mother Teresa

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

A MEMORABLE VISIT: Diego Maradona was a picture of serenity during his visit to Mother House, the headquarters of Missionaries of Charity, in Kolkata on Sunday.

KOLKATA: In complete contrast to the first day of the two-day visit to the city, Diego Armando Maradona, the man who captured the imagination of the world with his soccer skills, was a picture of serenity at the Mother House, the world headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, on Sunday.

Accompanied by his friend Veronica, Maradona arrived at the House in the heart of Kolkata to pay his obeisance to Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to work among the poor, dying and aged.

Amidst thunderous cheers from the thousands who had gathered on the streets to have a glimpse of the soccer legend, Maradona entered the House surrounded by the nuns of the order.

The man, who scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals against England, went around the House along with the sisters and met a number of children, some of them mentally and physically challenged. He kissed some, patted some and was completely at peace with himself.

On reaching Mother Teresa’s tomb, Maradona lit a candle as the sisters joined him in prayer. He kissed the marble tomb and was then taken to Mother’s statue.

Missionaries of Charity spokesperson Sister Christie said Maradona saw the pictures and writings of Mother in the exhibition room of the House. “We are happy to receive him,” she said.

Maradona left the Mother House bidding “bye, bye” to the children and waved to the gathering which cheered and applauded him.

Maradona’s next stop was supposed to proceed to Indira Bhavan, the residence of veteran Marxist leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu. Instead he decided to return to his hotel, overcome by the emotions of the visit to Mother House.

After a break he drove to Mr. Basu’s Salt Lake residence where a huge crowd had gathered to see him. The security assigned to Maradona took him to meet Mr. Basu through the rear entrance to avoid any problems.

Cheerful yet respectful, Maradona shook hands with the veteran leader and sat next to him and exchanged a few words.

Mr. Basu welcomed the legend by presenting a bouquet and showed him a photo album that had a few pictures of him with Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

Speaking with the help of an interpreter, Maradona told Mr. Basu, “Fidel Castro is my friend. Anybody who is his friend is my friend. You are my friend.”

With the security not allowing him to go to the stage erected in front of Mr. Basu’s residence, the Argentine left for his next destination through the same entrance he had come in a little earlier.

State Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty, a confidant of Mr. Basu, came out and announced, to the disappointment of thousands, that Maradona would not be coming on stage.

Maradona’s memorable visit to Kolkata would come to an end in the wee hours of Monday after a charity dinner planned by the organiser, Celebrity Management Group.

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