Diego Maradona fulfils dream

It was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday morning.

And in the sunny happiness of the moment, he threw caution to the winds, forgave Kolkatans for their unruly behaviour the day before to come down on to the road and
wave kisses at the huge crowd waiting to catch a glimpse of him since morning.

Maradona had a desire to be blessed by Mother Teresa. But since this wish could not be fulfiled, he made it his prime goal to visit the Mother House, headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by her. Sister Christie from the Mother House told DNA that Maradona did not leave any special message but lit a candle and prayed at the chapel in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa.

Bhaswar Goswami, executive director of Celebrity Management Group which is managing the entire two-day “show”, said that the legendary footballer has pledged gifts to children which will be delivered later by the company on his behalf. The nuns presented him with the ‘Mother’s medals and pictures and prayer cards’.

Maradona looked a trifle tired and word spread that he was unwell. Hotel doctors were quick to check him up and diagnosed it as exhaustion. He had travelled 32 hours and had been on the move non-stop after arrival in the city.

Later in the afternoon, he met former chief minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu at his residence where he said: “Anyone who is a friend of Fidel Castro is a friend of mine. Since you are his friend, you are my friend too.”