After stirring the whole sporting world in the World Cup finals of 1986 in Mexico, Diego Armando Maradona had ever remained in the limelight and among the topmost in the list of global celebrities.
When he led his country Argentina to conquer the world, even as a kid, I could not but have a special admiration for the skillful South American. I can still see that ubiquitous picture of him in an acrobatic position with the *No.10* vividly displayed. His prowess, stamina, dribbling and exceptional ability to score unbelievable goals were never in contention. His second goal against Sir Bobby Robson's England in the quarter finals at the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City was voted as FIFA's Goal of the Century!
Maradona himself, alongside Pele, was the FIFA Player of the Century!
While entertaining the world on the international arena representing his home country Argentina, he spent his golden age at the Italian 'Serie A' side Napoli FC from 1984 to 1991. Prior to his arrival from Barcelona, the city of Naples had never tasted the joy of lifting the 'Serie A' trophy in its long football history. But by his very third season at the club, he helped Napoli lift the trophy in 1987 and repeated same feat in 1990. By the time Maradona left in 1991, he was both a legend and an idol in Naples. He illuminated the entire city with mouth-watering and majestic football. He had helped in making Naples akin to a lion's den where visitors enter with awe and respect in equal measure.
Now to the crux of the matter: *the whiteman never forgets a favour.*
Having left Napoli since 1991, three decades now, the City of Naples is still as grateful to its long standing hero and second all-time highest scorer (his record only broken in 2017) as it was then! Children born afterwards are still told about, and shown, those historic years so that they could appreciate their city's hero.
After his death last month, the board of Napoli FC deliberated on how best to honour this uncommon benefactor. At the end, its stadium - no less - was renamed from Stadio San Paolo to *Stadio Diego Armando Maradona*!
Can you beat that from a club outside of his native country and continent?!
I wish our true heroes here in Nigeria could be given the honour they truly deserve- no matter the length of time taken. For me, apart from ackowleding the enoumous gift he posssed in the art of football, the deceased's personal life was tumultuous and therefore not worthy of emulating. But Napoli's act of reciprocating an old favour, no doubt, is.
Written by Amnesty7