Maradona's father �Don Diego� dies

AFP, BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradona's father "Don Diego" passed away on Thursday, local media reported, with the 87-year-old failing to recover from long-standing coronary and respiratory difficulties.
Argentina World Cup winner Diego Maradona had been at his father's side in a Buenos Aires hospital since flying in from his Dubai home on June 2.
"Don Diego", a popular figure throughout Argentina, had been admitted to the private clinic in the country's capital for the third time in the last year.
Don Diego stood by the 1986 World Cup winner throughout a turbulent career during which the player dazzled on the soccer field but also succumbed to drug and alcohol abuse.
Maradona rushed to Argentina from Dubai earlier this month to be with his father as his health deteriorated, having regretted not seeing his mother, known affectionately as Dona Tota, in the days before she died in 2011.
Soon after returning to Buenos Aires he expressed his pain at watching his father’s life ebb away but also his relief at seeing him in time. “I’m calm after not having managed to get here and give my old lady a kiss,” Maradona told a local radio station after visiting his father in hospital this month.
Don Diego, a factory worker, came to Buenos Aires from the northern province of Corrientes in the 1950s, raising eight children in the Villa Fiorito shanty town on the southern edge of the capital.
His first child, Diego,
was born in 1960. When Maradona was nine a hard-up Don Diego refused to let him attend trials at first division Argentinos Juniors because there was not enough money in the sport.
But he shone for the Villa Fiorito team and the Argentinos Juniors scout Francis Cornejo persuaded Don Diego to give way.
“Pelusa” (Fluff), the nickname Don Diego and Dona Tota gave Maradona, played for the club’s junior side Cebollitas (little onions) and they launched him on the journey to football’s summit.
A quiet man, Don Diego occasionally arranged asados, or barbecues, for the Argentinian national team, even on tours such as the 1986 World Cup triumph in Mexico.

Maradonas father �Don Diego� dies

AFP, BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradonas father Don Diego passed away on Thursday, local media reported, with the 87-year-old failing to recover from long-standing coronary and respiratory difficulties. Argentina World Cup winner Diego Maradona had been at his fathers side in a Buenos Aires hospital since flying in from his Dubai home on June 2. Don Diego, a popular figure throughout Argentina, had been admitted to the private clinic in the countrys capital for the third time in the last year. Don Diego stood by the 1986 World Cup winner throughout a turbulent career during which the player dazzled on the soccer field but also succumbed to drug and alcohol abuse. Maradona rushed to Argentina from Dubai earlier this month to be with his father as his health deteriorated, having regretted not seeing his mother, known affectionately as Dona Tota, in the days before she died in 2011. Soon after returning to Buenos Aires he expressed his pain at watching his fathers life ebb away but also his relief at seeing him in time. Im calm after not having managed to get here and give my old lady a kiss, Maradona told a local radio station after visiting his father in hospital this month. Don Diego, a factory worker, came to Buenos Aires from the northern province of Corrientes in the 1950s, raising eight children in the Villa Fiorito shanty town on the southern edge of the capital. His first child, Diego, was born in 1960. When Maradona was nine a hard-up Don Diego refused to let him attend trials at first division Argentinos Juniors because there was not enough money in the sport. But he shone for the Villa Fiorito team and the Argentinos Juniors scout Francis Cornejo persuaded Don Diego to give way. Pelusa (Fluff), the nickname Don Diego and Dona Tota gave Maradona, played for the clubs junior side Cebollitas (little onions) and they launched him on the journey to footballs summit. A quiet man, Don Diego occasionally arranged asados, or barbecues, for the Argentinian national team, even on tours such as the 1986 World Cup triumph in Mexico.