NFF’s Sanusi, Mouktar, Attah pay tribute to legendary Diego Maradona
As the world of football continues to mourn the passing of one of its greatest players, Diego Armando Maradona at 60 years, some prominent football stakeholders in Nigeria have also paid glowing tributes to the legend.
The legendary Maradona died of heart attack at his home in the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, throwing the whole world into mourning.
While reacting to the death of the man who almost single handedly led Argentina to victory at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said the history of football won’t be complete without a mention of Maradona.
“No doubt, the death of Diego Maradona is a big loss to football all over the word. He promoted the game of football very well. You cannot talk of football without a mention of Maradona.
“He was an icon who was well celebrated. He actually contributed to making football what it is today. Maradona will be greatly missed as his mesmerizing moves and athleticism on the field of play was second to none,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of FCT Football Association,
Adam Mouktar Mohammed said “Today (yesterday) is indeed one of the saddest in the history of Football. Maradona is Football and Football is Maradona. These two are inseparable and they represent each other.
“We surely miss him. I am sure we will see a lot of monuments named after him,” he said
A former Super Eagles Coordinator, Emmanuel Attah in his tribute said “Very shocking, to say the least. He was one of the greatest footballers on this planet. I remember how friendly he was during the match between Nigeria and Argentina at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“Even as he was the coach of Argentina, he showed his humility by exchanging pleasantries with us in the dressing rooms.
“Maradona was a football gem. He will be greatly missed.
May God grant him eternal rest.”
For Emmanuel Zira, the Chairman of Adamawa United, “Maradona was a gifted entertainer on and off the field. A crowd puller everywhere he went. Maradona was simply the good, the bad and the ugly, but above all, an unmistakable and legendary superstar of iconic stature.
“Adieu Diego Armando Maradona. There can only be one, and that is you.”