Phillips targets Maradona

2005-10-11 21:30

Johannesburg - "The Celebrated Hand of God" may have nothing to do with it. But PSL CEO Trevor Phillips has more than a hand in the PSL's initiative to bring Argentine soccer icon Diego Maradona to South Africa as a special guest during the proposed international four-club tournament early in the New Year.

Phillips revealed on Tuesday that plans were at an advanced stage for perennial Argentine champions Boca Juniors, German champions Bayern Munich and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven to join a composite PSL XI in a four-team challenge in South Africa while the African Nations tournament is in progress in Egypt.

The tournament is the brainwave of the PSL CEO, who believes it is essential to give local soccer followers the opportunity of watching top-level soccer "live" during the six-week break in PSL fixtures while the African Cup is taking place in Egypt.

Phillips also has a finger in the pie, so to speak, in the negotiations to bring soccer legend Maradona to South Africa along with the Boca Juniors team with which he was associated for many years during his playing career.

Classified by many as the second-greatest player of all-time behind only the incomparable Pele, the high-profiled Argentine has shed his controversial image in recent months, lost a considerable amount of weight, kept in harness his notorious drug addiction and hosted a popular talk show in Buenos Aires.

Other goal is overlooked

Although often categorised as synonymous with the dubious "Hand of God" goal during the 1986 World Cup en route to Argentina winning the prized trophy in Mexico, it is often overlooked that the other goal Maradona scored in a 2-0 quarter-final win over England is generally regarded as one of the greatest in World Cup history.

"He has never been to South Africa as far as I know," said Phillips, "and his presence here would add glamour to the event to keep live soccer alive here while Bafana Bafana and numerous other foreigners participating in the PSL are busy in Egypt."

The local event will be staged at a time when many of the countries in Europe are in the midst of a mid-winter break and might welcome a spell in the sun.

- SAPA