Maradona’s life was one of sheer brilliance
GOD I S the only constant and immortal, humans like other living beings are born and they die. In spite of the immeasurable potential of talent you may have, the good book says that there is a time for everything under the sun – “a time to live and a time to die”. Diego Maradona lived a most brilliant life. No one can dispute that. He was definitely a gift to the world. The man’s dynamism was certainly beyond his time. He didn’t spend a remarkable amount of time on planet Earth, but his i mpact was enormous. Diego was a giant among men He was truly an amazing and fantastic human of our species.
The first time I heard about him was i n 1977 when the news came out about wonder boy from Argentina who was displaying sheer genius in his football skills. This pin- size youth was mesmerising fans all over Argentina with his fancy footwork and commanding presence. This flamboyant personality became the pride and joy of his home country. He was a cultural icon who could turn a bad day for his team’s fortunes i nto an i mmediate dominant force. He played in the qualifying stages of the 1978
World Cup, but the Argentinian football federation didn’t feel that he was mature enough to be a force in the 1978 World Cup, which they won. At the 1982 World Cup, he was not at his best and had some level of success but was sent off in shame after wilfully stepping on a Brazilian player. He had his challenges with drug addiction, which would have been one of the factors responsible for his demise.
The 1986 World Cup saw the little genius coming into his own with some fantastic solo displays of accuracy in dribbling and passing. This enigmatic player was charismatic when he played . Maradona was his scintillating and controversial best with the Hand of God goal. He later, dribbled the ball beating English players in the quarterfinal, dismissing Beardley, Reid, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick, Butcher again then finally slipped the ball past Peter Shelton. The goal is considered to be the best oneman move ever in a World Cup finals history. When mortals pass on, we say they are sleeping. Their presence is ever with us now and forever, into the eternal future.
PARIS TAYLOR paristaylor82@hotmail.com