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Indonesian fans join soccer world in mourning Maradona
The Argentinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Gustavo A. Torres, said Maradona’s death had shocked both Argentine society and the entire world. He acknowledged that it was unfathomable how many people across the world knew the name of Maradona.
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ans worldwide paid tribute and Argentina went into mourning on Thursday after Diego Maradona, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, died aged 60 of a heart attack.
The Argentinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Gustavo A. Torres, said Maradona’s death had shocked both Argentine society and the entire world. He acknowledged that it was unfathomable how many people across the world knew the name of Maradona.
He added that "El Diego" was much more than just a soccer player and left an extraordinary memory in everyone who saw him play.
The thousands of games he played, Ambassador Torres went on, the world fame that his zurda (left foot) achieved and the millions of headlines that his extraordinary playing generated, made Maradona one of the best-known figures of the last two decades.
"D10S was perfect in soccer! He not only used his left foot, but also his head, heart, nobility, his right foot, he defended, attacked, recovered. A gifted man and a genius!” he said.
He also recalled the Indonesian fans' warm welcome for the soccer star during his 2013 Indonesian visit as a true token of respect and popularity.
“Diego Maradona visited Indonesia years ago and the people of this country gave a wonderful welcome to their idol. ‘Albiceleste’ mania runs deep in this country and for that our deep gratitude,” Ambassador Torres said.
Indonesian fans recalled Maradona’s greatness, which he displayed on and off the field, as a distinguishing factor that separated him from other soccer greats like Pele of Brazil and Argentina’s modern-day saint Lionel Messi.
Agustinus Raharjo, a long-time fan of the “Hand of God” player, recognized the Argentinian’s enormous charisma, aside from stellar skills, as having catapulted him to “soccer God” status.
“A true soccer maestro. His techniques and skills were undisputed. Let alone his charisma that made anyone reluctant to challenge him,” Agustinus said.
Head of the Indonesian National Team Fans Association, Ignatius Indro, said he was more a fan of the England national team, referring to Argentina’s opponent in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match, but Maradona’s skillful technique was admirable and earned everyone’s respect.
“Maradona’s individual skill enchanted everyone, even his opponents. Furthermore, his efforts to boost Napoli to become one of Italy’s elite clubs earned my respect,” said Indro.
However, he also admitted that Maradona’s involvement with drugs and his failing coaching roles had tainted his soccer career.
Thousands of mourners, many in tears, and many wearing the World Cup winner's number 10 Argentina jersey, gathered in streets and at stadiums around Buenos Aires in a spontaneous celebration of the player and manager's riotous life.
Tributes poured in from around the world as supporters, players and government leaders from South America to Europe and Asia marked the passing of an undisputed maestro.
The outrageously skillful Maradona died of a heart attack while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain, a member of his entourage told AFP.
Family members were summoned to Maradona's home north of Buenos Aires before his death was announced, triggering a wave of grief across the country and worldwide.
Messi, Argentina's modern-day superstar, led the tributes as he said: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."
Brazilian legend Pele, 80, constantly compared with Maradona in the debate over soccer's greatest player, said he hoped they would one day "play together in the sky".
Hundreds of people were already queueing outside the presidential palace in Buenos Aires when Maradona's coffin arrived late on Wednesday to lie in state during a three-day period of national mourning.
Despite major coronavirus problems in Argentina, with more than 1.3 million cases, fans gathered at landmarks including Buenos Aires' Obelisk monument and Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where he started his career.
Elsewhere, underlining Maradona's global appeal, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar were among those to offer tributes, and one fan held back tears as he spoke to AFP in Beijing.
Maradona, born in Lanus, just south of Buenos Aires, on Oct. 30, 1960, also played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli in a career marked by wild highs and lows.
In probably his most famous moment, he leapt and used his fist to score past England's Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, memorably describing the goal as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God".
