Maradona interviews Cuba's
Castro
BBC,
UK, October 28, 2005.
Argentine football hero Diego Maradona
has interviewed Cuban President Fidel Castro
for his television chat show.
The former Argentina football captain told
Cuban television interviewing Mr Castro
had been his dream. The two men have known
each other for many years.
"For me he is a god," Maradona
said of the veteran communist leader.
The interview is due to be broadcast on
Argentina's Canal 13 television channel
on Monday. The contents of the programme
have not been revealed.
Maradona became friends with Mr Castro
during his stays in Cuba to receive treatment
for cocaine addiction.
He has tattoo of the Cuban leader's face
on his leg.
The football star also said he would lead
a march against US President George Bush
when the US leader attends the "Summit
of the Americas" in Argentina in November.
Leaders from all the countries in the Americas
will attend the summit - except Mr Castro.
'The greatest'
Maradona's popular television show is called
La Noche del Diez - The Night of the Number
Ten - in reference to the number 10 shirt
Maradona wore for the national side.
The show has provided a return to the limelight
for Maradona since he retired from football
in 1997. Brazilian football legend Pele
was his first guest.
He is widely regarded as one of the finest
football players of all times, and captained
Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986,
but cocaine addiction took its toll on his
career and health.
The interview with Mr Castro is "icing
on the cake" for the show, Maradona
said.
"I was missing the greatest one, and
now I have him," he added.
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