Diego Maradona to come to India during FIFA U-17 World Cup
Diego Maradona's Kolkata trip has been postponed for a third time on Saturday and now, the Argentine legend will come on October 8 during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Maradona was to play ‘Match for Unity’ with former Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly in Barasat on October 5.
Maradona has cited his “sudden football obligation” in UAE as the reason for the delay and organisers clarified that he will now come on October 8 and stay until October 10 to fulfil his commitments in Kolkata.
"To the people of Kolkata, I would like to tell you that due to my work obligations in the Arab Emirates, my visit to India on October 2 has been postponed," read the English translation of a Spanish post on Maradona's official Facebook page.
"I want to thank the authorities and all those who make possible my visit to their beloved country. See you soon #Kolkata, I wish you happy holidays!!!"
Maradona's visit was originally scheduled on September 19 before being postponed to October 2 and then till October 5.
"The match was shifted because of Muharram and Durga Puja immersion. Now the match will be a closed-door affair, where entry is by invitation only," Vivek Kumar Agarwal, founder, Dhulaiwala Group, the title sponsors of the event, had said.