The king is dead. Diego Armando Maradona once strode the fields of the world with a panache rarely seen. Very human, with his frailties for all to see, his game was a joyful one, a very entertaining one. His role in the 1986 World cup triumph and then his drive that took Napoli to the league championship twice has been recorded for posterity. Fans in Goa were as shocked as the rest of the world was on hearing of the death of a man for whom it could be said held the world in his thrall.
I feel very sad; I have been keeping in touch with his football career from the time he played in the 1982 World Cup and was red carded. In 1986 when he returned as a captain, he was a changed person temperamentally. He was focused on his football and displayed his skills in the world cup. He scored one of the greatest goals against England. I have to admit I have always been attracted to South American football skills and Maradona embodied it. He was great after that till he was banned for drugs in 1992. I had the pleasure of watching a film on him at the Mall De Goa with two friends with whom I played the game. His hand of God is still talked about even today and perhaps he was a man of God (haha)to beat Peter Shilton. But yes, what a player and he will never be forgotten as long as the game is played.
-Brahmanand Sankwalkar Former India Goalkeeper and Chairman of GFDC
My brother was a FIFA referee and he was called for the 1978 junior world cup. He watched Maradona in that world cup and predicted that one day he would take over the football world. Rightly so, today we are talking about his memories. Of a player who had remarkable skills and a footballer with a big heart. He fought every tackle. We don’t see footballers of that caliber now. Messi is very good but I am not keen on comparing players from different eras. Each one is great in his own era. He mesmerized the world with his talent. It is a great loss , he left too early. In 1982 he was not mature and reacted to everything but in 86, he was driven and desperate to win the world cup and perhaps that showed in that hand of God.
-Francis d Souza Former India player
I attended four world cups but did not have the pleasure of watching him play. I watched him once play a friendly in Germany and it was so obvious he was a brilliant player, a great distributor of the ball who transcended his lack of inches. Watching him was like watching a artist at work. He was one of the greatest players to have graced the game. Thankfully we will have all those memories to remind us what a player he was.
-Savio Messias Former vice chairman, coaching and technical committee, AIFF
There are no words to describe the genius of this man. It was god given talent and Maradona was a once in a generation player. I don’t see another Maradona coming up in the future. During the 1986 world cup, newspapers ran quizzes and I won a prize and made a wooden sofa. I shall never sell it because it was all due to Maradona.
-Savio Madeira All India Football Federation (AIFF) technical director
I watched him coach Argentina in the world cup held in South Africa. He had a troubled life but was a great player. Pele, Maradona and Messi are the three greats of this century. He was a popular guy who was born in the slums. I felt like crying when I heard the news. He was a phenomenal player who could not handle life outside the field. His achievements in Italy may have gone to his head. All that adulation can get to you. He was also allegedly involved with the underworld in Napoli. He certainly lost his way. Look at Pele, he has handled himself better and has been more disciplined comparatively.
-Anthony Bothello former sec of Goa football association
Diego Armando Maradona, my favourite player of all time. The skills he possessed can’t be found in present football. I will never forget when he dribbled 7 players and scored against England in the quarters of the 1986 World Cup. Of course one should not forget the hand of God in the same match. He will always live my heart…️
-Anselm Trindade, Football fanAssonora
The footballing world lost one of its biggest stars yesterday, Diego Maradona was one of the greatest players to have played the game and it was shocking to learn of his death at 60.He was a true magician when he had the ball at his feet. I feel unlucky that I was not born at the time he played but I used to watch his recorded videos on YouTube and that’s when my love for this beautiful game developed. He just mesmerized me with his skills; he was an unbelievably unbelievable talent the game ever had. Will forever remember his ‘‘Hand of God’ goal. Rest easy sir.
-Kunal Kunkolienkar, Student, Margao
