Diego Armando Maradona
was born on the 30th of October 1960 to a father of a native indian extraction
in the Buenos Aires slums of Villa Fiorito. Born to a poor family his only
toy was a leather football presented to him by his uncle Cirilo on his
third birthday. Years later he would say ' the first football was the
most beautiful present of my life........ the day I was given it I slept
all night, hugging it'. The poverty coupled with being the first born
burdened him at an early stage in his life to suceed in earning a living
for the family through football.
In the early years
Diego's life in Villa Fiorito was to play with the kids from the neighbourhood
and earn a few pesos by opening doors to taxis and selling cigarette foil.
The reality of life in this suburb was far removed from the properous and
fiesty Buenos Aires. Indeed this was to play a major part in his life and
aspirations.
Diego was only eight
years old when on recommendation from a talent spotter he was asked to
attend a training session with Cebollitos, Argentinos Juniors youth team.
The outstanding skills he showed in playing with older players fuelled
the team trainer's suspicion that he may be hiding his age. His control
of football especially on his head and left foot was impressive and it
was on this momentous occasion that he was to get his first break which
would end his childhood. From then on it was a roll as many would say.
Having played for
the junior and the first division team of Argentinos Junior for a few years,
at the age of 16 he would be the youngest ever player to play in the premier
division. The timing of this momentous occasion seemed to have exceeded
even his ambitions as years on he was to say 'I always knew I would
become great one day, but not so quickly.........'.
In 1980 Maradona would
transfer to Boca Juniors, a team he always supported and aspired to play
for. It was here that he won his first league championship. Being in the
heart of the Buenos Aires port, Boca was for the working, unpriviledged
and poor while their arch rivals River Plate was for the prosperous and
rich. Indeed while River Plate had on several occasions shown interest
in signing Maradonan ; as far as he was concerned Boca represented his
bringing up and was the only team for him.
His most memorable
time with Boca was in the 1981 match against River Plate in the La Bombonera.
It was on this occasion that he scored three goals in the process of which
he run past and beat many River Plate players. Boca fans would forever
adore him.
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