Date:09/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/09/stories/2008120961641900.htm

Sport - Football

Willing to help India: Maradona

His four jerseys fetch close to Rs. 7 lakh

— PHOTO: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH

A TOUR TO REMEMBER: Moved by the overwhelming response, Diego Maradona hopes to return with his family.

Kolkata: Overwhelmed by the response of the fans here, Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona says he might consider helping Indian football by becoming its brand ambassador.

“In terms of football, there are so many things to do here in India. I hope this can take India to the next level with good infrastructure and commitment. I am willing to help India by becoming a brand ambassador,” Maradona said through his PR firm head Sebastian de Monte.

Touched by the rapturous reception, Maradona said the trip to India had given him some of the best moments of his life.

Complete success

“The India tour is a complete success. It was full of complete joy, complete happiness. Really excellent! The trip is fulfilling and I hope to come here again with my family,” he said.

Over one lakh people turned up to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic star at the Salt Lake Stadium and he was mobbed wherever he went during his 48-hour trip.

Asked whether the Argentine was hesitant to come to India after the terror strikes in Mumbai, de Monte said: “There were some concerns, at first.

"But after seeing the arrangements, we were very satisfied.”

Earlier, he donated Rs. 12.36 lakh — the proceeds of Diego Maradona’s auctioned memorabilia for the Maheshtala-located Indian Football School, the foundation stone of which was laid by the legendary Argentine himself on his arrival last week.

Overwhelming response

The bid dinner which followed, open exclusively to partners of Maradona’s India trip, fetched an overwhelming response, with his four jerseys — three Argentine, one Boca Juniors and another Barcelona — alone fetching Rs. 6.91 lakh.

With mediapersons and his die-hard fans giving their sleep a miss and preferring to wait outside the hotel on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, Maradona and his entourage left around 1.30 a.m. to catch his flight to Frankfurt.

The list of items which went under the hammer included three Mardona photographs with official emblem, which fetched Rs. 3.30 lakh, with one of the three photos being auctioned for Rs. 2 lakh.

One of Maradona’s three Argentine No. 10 jerseys fetched Rs. 2.5 lakh, while four of his footballs were auctioned for Rs 2.15 lakh. — PTI