Agencies/Kannur, Kerala
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| Argentinian football icon and former player Diego Maradona performs during an appearance at a stadium in Kannur |
Football legend Diego Maradona delighted thousands of fans in Kerala yesterday when he demonstrated his football skills and sang and danced with the crowds.
Local news channels showed Maradona waving and blowing kisses at an estimated 50,000 crowd that gathered at a stadium in Kannur in north Kerala.
The Argentine veteran entertained the fans with some of his famed moves with the ball and later engaged in a series of headers with former India captain I M Vijayan.
He also crooned a Spanish number and broke into an impromptu dance. “Vive La India,” he said to the delirious crowds chanting his name.
Maradona who turns 52 on October 30, also cut a birthday cake weighing more than 30kg.
“Football god Maradona has won thousands of hearts here today,” a fan told Jeevan TV.
Although cricket is the favourite sport in the country, football has a huge following in Kerala.
Among those present at the function were Home Minister T Radhakrishnan, Sports Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and a number of legislators.
Maradona arrived in Kerala on a personal visit on Tuesday to open a showroom of Chemmanur Jewellers and launch operations of the company’s private airline. He flew to Dubai later yesterday.
Maradona, regarded among the greatest football players ever, led his side to a World Cup victory in 1986. He recently took up a position as honorary football ambassador of Dubai after his sacking as coach of the Gulf emirate’s Al Wasl club.