Whenever the Argentines took field, I felt a gush of emotions run through me from post to post. Every shot to the goal post, every miss and every goal are met with aahs and oohs albeit I being the lone man watching it.I was probably an Argentine in my last birth..or may be a dog..or an owl..or just Amoeba!
I have been following football since 1994, from the time we played football cards in the school bus, those cards that came with the World Cup gum. I had some understanding of Mardadona's game and was keen to watch him play. When he was accused of drug abuse, I was crestfallen and feared I might never see him play. Since then, any report about him was followed with a hope to see him back only to be disappointed reading that he had cocaine in an rehab in Cuba.
Learning that he would coach, this World Cup meant much more to me than ever. Never have I so fervently prayed that Buenos Aires see this team lift and kiss the cup. Watching Messi play, it does look like Diego has gone nowhere. His magical left foot tackles remind those cosmic flashes of brilliance seen not so long ago in Maradona.Expectedly, the team is sending the Jabulani into the net and causing the opposition to fret. Maradona's passion is such, he must be itching to take a shot at the ball and am sure even at this age, will put most of the stars to shame.
Other players who make it to my list of all time favourites--Dennis Bergkamp, Roberto Baggio, Romario, Roberto Carlos, Messi, Zizou and Oliver Kahn. Though none of them is playing now, I wish to see their videos again and relive the magic of the world's most beautiful game. The magic still lives on in the form of the Diego Armando Maradona.
"I was probably an Argentine in my last birth" - when we talked cricket didn't you once say you were probably Australian in your last birth?
ReplyDelete