Diego Maradona arrives in Kolkata

Saturday, December 6, 2008 (Kolkata)
"God of football" Diego Armando Maradona arrived on a two-day visit here early Saturday and was welcomed by thousands of Kolkatans who gave sleep a miss and lined the roads for a glimpse of the Argentinian.

People waved flags of India and Argentina, danced to the tune of foot-tapping Latin American music and raised slogans eulogising the football legend who touched down at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport at 1.25 am.

Kolkata, cricket crazy India's soccer crazy hub, saw passions run high as more than 50 thousand sports buffs assembled at the airport, and various street junctions leading to the hotel on the Eastern Metropolitan bypass where Maradona would put up.

It was a carnival atmosphere as the milling crowd held aloft cut-outs of the footballer, and carried posters.welcoming him in multiple languages - English, Hindi, Bengali and even Spanish. From old infirm men to children not yet in their teens, from able-bodied youth to bashful housewives - everyone seemed to have hit the streets.

"I have been waiting for more than an hour. I am a great fan of Maradona," said housewife Ratna Sen, who had travelled 25 km to be a part of the occasion.

The diminutive 1.65 m hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup triumph was welcomed at the tarmac of the airport by West Bengal sports minister Subhas Chakraborty and the organisers with flowers.

"Maradona is a phenomenon. This is a momentous occasion. It's the raw passion for soccer which has brought so many people on the roads," said former India international footballer and Arjuna awardee Prasun Banerjee, waiting on a city street.

More than 5000 policemen, including the Rapid Action Force and crack commandos were deployed on the entire route of Maradona's convoy to prevent any breach of peace.

A couple of over-enthusiastic teenagers were seen climbing lamp posts near the airports to hoist Argentine flags, forcing the security personnel to step in and bring them down.

On Saturday morning, Maradona would begin his schedule by flying out in a helicopter to the facility of one of the sponsors before laying the foundation stone of the Maradona Indian Football School at Mahestala, 13 km south of the city.

Maradona, accompanied by his girlfriend Veronica, would also be felicitated at Maheshtala before returning to his hotel for a media meet that would be followed by the felicitation at the giant Salt Lake Stadium in the afternoon.

"It will be a programme worth remembering for years. Don't miss the start and the end," said Chakraborty.Maradona would kickstart a match between Foreign Minister's XI and Chief Minister's XI, where players turning out for various teams would take part. Among those seen in action would Bhaichung Bhutia and Jose Barreto

Later, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would inaugurate the felicitation proper. Maradona would be showered with gifts, among which are golden replica of the stadium, and a left foot with a football.He would also go around the stadium in the bus, before the function concludes with a pyrotechnic display.

On Sunday, Maradona would visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. He would also call on former state chief minister and communist patriarch Jyoti Basu at his Salt Lake residence.

Maradona would conduct a soccer clinic at the Mohun Bagan ground later in the day, before wrapping up his visit with a charity dinner at the hotel. Five jerseys and footballs autographed by the soccer star would come under the hammer at the dinner, the proceeds of which would go to the IFS.

I-League: Bhaichung calls for better coverage

New Delhi: Mohun Bagan skipper Bhaichung Bhutia has called for a better coverage of the games for football players in India to be followed at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Bhaichung, alongwith Steven Dias, inaugurated the second edition of Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars ’09 where in the final stage, 16 Indian youngsters would get a chance to participate in the Arsenal International Soccer Festival.

"For the Indian players to be followed, we need a much better coverage of the games. When we play, those matches must be shown," said the veteran Indian skipper.

Incidentally, football fans in the country could only see the first half of the I-League match between Mohun Bagan and Mahindra United and were bereft of the winner scored by Bhaichung.

Mohun Bagan had a disastrous start to their I-League campaign and Bhaichung acknowledged it stating, "It was the worst start by Mohun Bagan in their entire NFL (National Football League or the now I-League) history. But credit to the players, coaches and the management for the great recovery."

The Sikkimese Sniper went on to speak on life after football and spoke of his desire to have a world-class Academy in India.

"It’s my dream project. I want to have an Academy of the highest quality but for that the minimum is 40 acres of land."

No immediate retirement plans: Bhutia

Monday, November 17, 2008 (Gangtok)
India football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Monday dismissed speculations with regard to his retirement plans in the near future and said that he intends to carry on with the game as long as his body permits.

"I've no plans to retire from the game in the near future... I intend to play as long as my health and physical fitness permits," he told reporters. "I will let you people (media) know the day I decide to retire from the game," the 33-year-old national football team captain said.

Asked whether he has set any targets before hanging his boots, Bhutia, who hails from Sikkim, replied in the negative. Bhutia, though, once again raised his voice for the development of football at the grassroots level.

"There should be a structured system in place at the grassroots level throughout the country for the promotion of football. This will bring utmost satisfaction to me in the years to come," he said.

Bhutia, who was here to promote the Nike Manchester United Premier Cup for under-15 boys, said he would also seek to give something back to the game which has brought him stardom and said he would like to set up a football academy for budding talents in the north-eastern state.

"I will consider a proposal for setting up a football academy in any of the north-eastern states provided that a 40-acre land is made available by the willing state," he said.