Asif Zaheer is also nicknamed Kerala Maradona. The player who has booted seven Santosh Trophy championships for Kerala. Crowned once and runners up twice. SBT’s goal machine hit the ball for a long time. Asif Zaheer shares his memories of the 1986 World Cup where Diego Maradona and Argentina tied the knot in his mind.
Football is also a family affair for us. Football was the most special thing in my father’s and mother’s family. His brothers, uncles and cousins were all talented players, so he grew up watching and listening to football in his childhood. The World Cup became a special feeling. Each time the World Cup comes around, it is eagerly awaited.
The first World Cup in memory was in 1986 when Diego Maradona’s Argentina won the title. He was only eight or nine years old. There is no TV at home. The neighbor’s TV was the source. Coming to that house with the elders and climbing on the top of the house and struggling to find the signal by turning the antenna until the scenes on the TV became clear are black and white memories in my mind for decades. It was also the World Cup where the name of the legend Diego Maradona comes to mind.
Diego Maradona, who was on his head that day, never left the house again. Later, many World Cups, many champions and legendary stars came and went, but 1986 Mexico and Diego Maradona remained the most special World Cup in my life. Even as a child, I watched the matches amid the roar of a large crowd. Diego Maradona’s words, moves and styles on the field have all been memorized. Later, he started imitating Diego whenever he went out to play with his friends. It is a happy memory that Maradona’s name was added when he heard from the gallery when football turned into a professional career.
Since 1986, every World Cup match has been watched without missing a beat. After Diego Maradona and Argentina, the games of the Brazilian team of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Kaka will always be remembered.
2018 Russia was the world cup that I went and watched live. Being able to watch Spain-Russia and Argentina-France matches is always a feeling of excitement.
The football passion in the soil of Kerala beats even the strongest football countries in the world. Teams from Brazil, Argentina and England to Belgium, Croatia, Senegal and Egypt have fans here. Malayalam also has the ability to analyze the match positively, win or lose the game.
Anyway, Malayalee fans are excited when the World Cup arrives in Qatar. There will be a large crowd of fans to watch the game. I am also waiting with them after taking the ticket. This will be the World Cup with the presence of many superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Let’s break it down together…