A cast of pall shrouded not only in the football world, but the entire planet earth, Wednesday when Diego Armando Maradona, arguably the greatest player that ever lived, breathed his last at the age of 60 after a heart attack.
Thousands of miles away from Argentina, Bangladesh was also shaken emotionally as one of its most favourite sporting, and footballing, hero passed away, sparking emotions of sadness among the majority of the Bangladeshi people.
Not only the millions of Argentina fans in Bangladesh, the jolt was felt as far away as Qatar where the Bangladesh football team are currently preparing for their joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying fixture against the host on December 4.
Bangladesh football team Jamal Bhuiyan led the tributes, saying a legend like Maradona will never, ever be forgotten and that he will forever be remembered in the hearts of his fans.
“Maradona passing away is sad news in the football world. Not only the football world, but the entire world. Those who play football, they’re feeling a bit more sad because Maradona was in icon for us, a legendary player. Everybody knows he won the World Cup in 1986, he also played outstandingly well for Italian side Napoli,” said Jamal Thursday during training in the Qatari capital.
“He achieved so much in his football career. All the fans of Argentina in Bangladesh, all the time they say “Maradona, Maradona”. So for me, the rest of the world and people in Bangladesh supporting Argentina, it was a sad day. But Maradona will never be forgotten. He will always be in our hearts. We will never forgive what he has done for football.”
A minute’s silence was observed Thursday at the Bangabandhu T20 Cup at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in...
Posted by Sports Tribune on Thursday, 26 November 2020
Goalkeeper and Argentina fan Ashraful Islam Rana said the gap that has been created by Maradona’s demise will not be filled.
“After our practice match [Wednesday night] we got to the team bus and came to about the passing away of talismanic footballer Maradona. It is a very sad thing for us, a few days ago Badal Roy breathed his last, now the football world is mourning the death of Maradona, one of the best ever players,” said Rana.
“This loss in football will never be fulfilled. As an Argentina fan I am in mourning. This is a huge gap created by his death. We always pray for Maradona, wherever he is, may he be well.”
Defender Topu Barman, another Argentina fan, said he was finding it difficult to cope with news of Maradona’s passing away.
“I am a huge Argentina fan, I have watched them in the last four or five World Cups, even though I have not watched Maradona on live tv, I am a huge fan of him. He inspired Argentina to World Cup success in 1986. I am finding it hard to cope with this news,” said Topu.
“I really liked Maradona. I was small when he played so I couldn’t watch live action, I watched videos on Youtube, each and every single member of the Bangladesh team are hurting at the moment. All we can do now is pray for him. Take care on the other side.”
