Diego Maradona inaugurates soccer school in India

Posted 12 9 2008 4:11AM

CALCUTTA, India - Diego Maradona was greeted by thousands of fans Saturday as he helped inaugurate a football school on the first day of his visit to promote the sport in India.

Maradona helped lay down a foundation stone for the Indian Football School, which is being set up to train young talents and help spread the sport at a grass-roots level.

The newly appointed Argentina coach was taken to the school on a bus, waving and blowing kisses to the throngs of fans lining the streets to get a glimpse of the football great. At the ceremony, Maradona kicked a football into the crowd before taking his shoe off to make a print of his famous left foot.

"I am very surprised and happy to see so many people on the streets to greet me," Maradona said through an interpreter.

Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, was also set to watch an exhibition match with Indian players later Saturday, before wrapping up his two-day visit by attending a clinic for young players organized by Indian club Mohun Bagan on Sunday.

"You have to give a lot of attention and affection to the players and the game for it to grow," Maradona said. "India still has a long way to go. However, I wish all the best to Indian football."