Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu is one of the most prolific left-wingers Bangladesh has ever produced.
He called it a day two years after the 1986 World Cup where Diego Maradona’s Argentina emerged victorious.
After that, he followed Maradona in his capacity as a manager, coach and other posts at Abahani Limited.
The Bangladesh legend paid tribute to the world football legend during an interview with Dhaka Tribune after his tragic passing away Wednesday at the age of 60 due to heart attack.
“I feel upset to see Maradona leave us. He is a world legend, football icon. It’s very sad for me that he is no more with us because we watched him play. I remember watching him live during 1990 World Cup final,” said Chunnu.
“He got chances in the national team in early 1980s. I followed him from 1983, 84, 85 through television. There were not enough channels or Youtube like today, but I found ways to see his games. I tried to follow his playing style. I was a big fan of him.
The length of Kaiser Hamid’s playing career almost matches with that of Diego Maradona, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 60 due to heart attack.
Posted by Sports Tribune on Friday, 27 November 2020
“I still remember two goals against England during the 1986 World Cup; the Hand of God by which the goal is known as, and the one where he dribbled past seven-eight players to score the winning goal. That was fantastic. It would stick in my mind as long as I live.
“What he has done for world football is unforgettable. He won the team the World Cup title with individual performance, sharing support with teammates and inspiring the whole team. He took football to a different level with his top-notch skills. Maradona is the root of all those football discussions of the past we see today.
“I would say, he is totally God gifted. There was something special in him through which he won the hearts of people and earned an unbelievable victory for the country. It is because of Maradona the whole world started knowing Argentina.
“How many in Bangladesh knew the name of Argentina before 1986? How they know now? Most of the people of our country supported Brazil, but after 1986, our country divided into two groups during every World Cup – Argentina and Brazil – because of Maradona.
“Maradona has a lot of impact in Dhaka football periphery. We used to wait to watch him on television, read his news on papers. He was a sports fighter. His specialty was in dribbling and proficiency with the ball. We sneaked for chances to see those – when he will play, when we would see him on TV. His impact was apparent among all footballers of the country, and not only in the Dhaka League. He created this phenomenon by his own capacity.
“Maradona was a living symbol. Many of our players were called by his name, like Sabbir [Rumman bin Wali] because of his good footwork. There was also Wasim [Iqbal] who was called by the name. They wanted to play like Maradona. He impacted all those players who played in forward and midfield. They were like, ‘I want to be Maradona. I want to play like Maradona.’ Not only in Bangladesh, he earned place in the hearts of all footballers around the world. It’s a great matter. Even today after his death it is proven again what he is to the football world.”
