While Diego Maradona’s pure love for football and its true embellishments – players and fans – was on view at the Municipal Jawahar Stadium here on Wednesday, one man enjoyed a special moment which is the dream of millions of footballers around the world.
To play, even if it is on stage, with the legend, and experience from close the artistry of one of the most magical of left-foots the game has ever seen.
Former Indian captain and the darling of Kerala football, IM Vijayan achieved it in front of wildly cheering fans. The 43-year old, who came back to active football in style with the Kerala Police recently, traded a few passes with Maradona on the ramp. Impressed by his skills, the global superstar - who earlier hugged Vijayan formally at the time of introduction - then took the Indian superstar in a warm embrace. A rare dream fulfilled, an emotional Vijayan let out a huge roar in exultation.
“This is the greatest recognition for me as a footballer. No gold medal or award can match it,” an ecstatic Vijayan told TNIE later.
And as he had told TNIE prior to the Argentine’s visit, the divine language of football acted as the perfect medium of communication for the Malayalam-speaking Vijayan to convey his admiration for his Spanish-speaking idol.
“He simply embraced me. Both of us did not say anything. He had seen my skills and the language of football had spoken on our behalf. This day and its memories will stay with me all my life,” he said.
And to think that his attempts to reach out to Maradona the other day at his hotel had proven unsuccessful.
“I saw him at the hotel but couldn’t meet him. But all that was compensated beyond description today,” he added.
