JOHANNESBURG - World Cup legend, Diego Maradona, has pledged his love for the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts and his charges are aiming to win and take home the trophy.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Johannesburg at the weekend, the Argentina captain said, Im excited to be here, I love South Africa.
Argentina will open their campaign at Johannesburgs Ellis Park Stadium against Nigeria on 12 June, moving to Soccer City stadium to play Korea Republic on 17 June. They will then travel to Polokwanes Peter Mokaba Stadium to face Greece on 22 June.
Maradona faces a formidable task guiding the perennial favourites to lift the trophy which he, and Argentina, last lifted in 1986 when he was the best footballer in the world. The team and coachs fortunes have fallen spectacularly ever since.
The player was kicked out of the 1994 edition after failing a drug test. He shot at journalists outside his home later that year. Maradona, a surprise choice to take over as coach, has also diced with death with his infamous cocaine addictions.
On the other hand, the teams standards have plummeted post-Maradona.
La Albiceleste (White and Sky blue) have largely started each tournament well (save for a hiccup against Cameroon in 1990), but were sent packing in the earlier stages of the biggest football tournament of the world.
They almost failed to qualify for this edition and the coach was slapped with a punishment for telling the Argentinean media what he thought of them.
However, The King Pibe, who is aiming to become the second player to win the tournament as a captain and coach, and his team should draw inspiration from the fact that winners of the previous tournaments have been horrible ahead of the World Cup.
2002 winners Brazil almost failed to qualify while Italy looked out of sorts after an atrocious match fixing saga that hampered preparations. They emerged unscathed.
On paper, Argentina has the most potent strike force. Lionel Messi is currently the best player in the world. He has awed Maradona himself. Gonzalo Higuans 20-something goals in his first season at Madrid makes him no ordinary player. Carlos Tevez is one of the most feared strikers of his generation. Sergio Agero is known more for his potency in front of goals than being Maradona’s son-in-law.
There is no doubt that if these players come to the party, Argentina will return home with the gold and Maradona with an enviable record.
Post published in: Football