SOCCER
James Richardson
Last week a schoolboy from Naples got called up for Italy’s under-17 national side despite being just 14. Causing a stir was the lad’s name: Maradona. Yup, he’s the son of the world’s greatest player, and his mum has a court certificate to prove it.
Diego Jnr’s story begins in September 1986. Mere months after Maradona earned his place in English ignominy with that goal in Mexico, the Argentine’s legendarily wandering hands also found their way to young Neapolitan fan Cristina Sinagra. A bouncing baby boy was the result. Diego himself has never recognised the child, but after conducting DNA tests in 1993 the Italian courts confirmed the boy officially of his loins.
Sinagra was not a popular woman in Naples when her paternity claim was first heard back in early 1987. At the time Poppa Maradona was leading Napoli to their first Italian title and already held demigod status in the city. Opportunists in the family way were the last thing anyone wanted. Plus the name she chose Diego Armando Maradona Jnr was akin to calling the little fellow Jesus Christ.
Fourteen years on though, Naples is excited to find a potential champ in their midst. Since 1997 Jnr has been a member of Napoli’s youth programme. With the club now in the second division, he tells us he’s constantly stopped in the street by Neapolitan fans, desperate for a second-generation miracle.
So is El Pibe Part II any good? After his surprise call-up last weekend, he and his under-17 team-mates were given a run out against Italy’s senior squad this Wednesday with Diego Jnr playing in the second half.
He managed the odd dribble and one nice back-heel flick, handled once (like father …? ) and pumped a free-kick reasonably close to Toldo’s goal. Meantime his older team-mates rarely missed an opportunity to avoid passing him the ball. Some close attention from midfield thug Rino Gattuso put an end to his afternoon out.
Conclusion? Well, unless I’m mistaken Maradona Snr also had a brother called Hugo. Hugo Maradona struggled down in sleepy Lecce at the start of the Nineties, and in Bridges terms was strictly Beau to Diego’s Jeff. Thankfully Diego Jnr looks a lot sharper than his uncle, but a) he only uses his right foot and b) he was constantly getting knocked over. At still not quite 15 he was big surprise still way out of his depth, whereas the Old Man would have caught the eye even at this tender age.
“How did I rate the little Maradona?” said Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni post-match. “Just that: little.”
Despite the lack of on-field sensations, a throng of eager pressmen indeed awaited the teen after the game. Questions about his “private life” (runaway dad) were not welcomed.
Meantime, the idea that El Pibe’s heir will one day shirt up for Italy and not Argentina is causing considerable grief in South America. Certainly if every foreign star who ever played in Serie A had made so generous with his seed, just think of the team the Italians could be fielding. They might have done better than 0-0 against mighty Lithuania last weekend.