Vijayan ecstatic over meeting Maradona
26 Oct 2012 4:46 AM IST
Former Indian football captain I M Vijayan is overwhelmed at sharing the stage with legendary Diego Maradona here and considers it an experience of a life time.
‘I will not forget the moment and will cherish it forever. I had seen him earlier, but this time I not only saw him, but he shook hands with me and fondly hugged me,’ Vijayan said on his brush with the legendary Argentine at a function.
Vijayan, one of India’s football greats, said that he had seen Maradona earlier at the 2002 FIFA World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan. ‘But that was not from close,’ he said.
Maradona, who had led Argentina to World Cup triumph in 1986, and Vijayan exchanged a few passes and headers as the former took the centre stage on his brief appearance before the football-crazy Kerala fans.
‘Most of us have grown up watching Maradona’s exploits on television. He was my hero during my playing days and also today,’ Vijayan said.
Besides Vijayan, former international players including Joe Paul Anchery, Sharaf Ali and K V Dhanesh, were also present on the occasion.
Maradona took the mike from the compere and thumping his chest said, ‘I love India. I love Kerala’ sending the fans who have come from across the state to a frenzy.
He also cut a cake, made in the shape of a playground with a football on top of it, in an advance celebration of his 52nd birthday which falls on October 30.
‘I will not forget the moment and will cherish it forever. I had seen him earlier, but this time I not only saw him, but he shook hands with me and fondly hugged me,’ Vijayan said on his brush with the legendary Argentine at a function.
Vijayan, one of India’s football greats, said that he had seen Maradona earlier at the 2002 FIFA World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan. ‘But that was not from close,’ he said.
Maradona, who had led Argentina to World Cup triumph in 1986, and Vijayan exchanged a few passes and headers as the former took the centre stage on his brief appearance before the football-crazy Kerala fans.
‘Most of us have grown up watching Maradona’s exploits on television. He was my hero during my playing days and also today,’ Vijayan said.
Besides Vijayan, former international players including Joe Paul Anchery, Sharaf Ali and K V Dhanesh, were also present on the occasion.
Maradona took the mike from the compere and thumping his chest said, ‘I love India. I love Kerala’ sending the fans who have come from across the state to a frenzy.
He also cut a cake, made in the shape of a playground with a football on top of it, in an advance celebration of his 52nd birthday which falls on October 30.
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