It was on 13th June, 2018, a day to the commencement of the Russia World Cup. I was at the Raddison hotel in Moscow where FIFA Ambassadors were lodged.
Then some Argentine fans walked, at their middle was Diego Maradona. Immediately I recognised him, I walked towards him, made sure that my FIFA Media accreditation was clearly seen round my neck.
I called out his last name – Maradona. He gave me a strange look. Of course, a stranger from Nigeria was calling him…he continued walking in the midst of the Argentine fans. I called him again, he looked me and continued walking.
I then realised that the people around him were calling him his first name – Diego. So, I called Diego too. FIFA security officials asked me what I wanted … I introduce myself …I am Francis Achi, a Nigerian journalist. I told them, I wanted to interview him. I was standing few metres in the front of Diego as he waiting to board the elevator.
I beckoned on him to grant me an interview for just few minutes, he looked at me, spoke few spanish language that was completely alien to me. I tried to get close, but the security officials kindly informed me that it would not be possible to interview him. No qualms, I replied.
Diego walked away into the elevator together with some of the people that came into the hotel lobby with him.
However, I observed something very unusual with him that night. Diego was shaking his head in a very strange manner. He shook his head as if he was trying to remove something from his hair.
I kept wondering why was he shaking his head in an abnormal way and at the same time, i felt disappointment that I could not interview the 1986 Argentine World Cup star.
Rest in peace, Diego Amando Maradona.
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