IM Vijayan: Maradona is my God and God doesn’t die

Footballer IM Vijayan, calls Diego Maradona who died on Wednesday following a cardiac arrest, as his ‘God’. The former Indian Football captain tells us how the legend will forever inspire him to be a better footballer every day.
Vijayan divulges that he wasn’t an Argentina supporter till 1986. “After watching the Mexican World Cup football match that year, from a friend’s house, I became a Maradona fan.From then I started following the team. He is magical and it is seen in his every game. I have been trying to perform his skills since then and have never succeeded. No wonder that he called the goal that he scored during England Vs. Argentina match, ‘hand of God’. Even today, the entire world praises that goal. Watching him playing, was a big inspiration for me,” he says.
Vijayan aka Kalo Harin is also known for his acting prowess. The fan in him, Vijayan says, finally, got the opportunity to meet his ‘God’ in 2012 at Kannur during an event. “I consider it as the biggest achievement in my life,” he says.
Talking about that ‘precious’ moment, Vijayan says, “We were told that we can meet him on the previous day of the event. Many Footballers including Sharaf sir, Suresh and Nelson waited for five hours. He slept off and we returned without seeing him. I was disappointed a bit,” he says adding that it later turned out to be a blessing.
“The next day, as I wanted to meet him, I went to the ground. Thus, I was able to share stage with him. I played football for a few minutes and hugged him. There are many in this world who desire at least touch him. Isn’t that called luck?” asks Vijayan adding, “If I had clicked a picture with him on the previous day, I wouldn’t have got to the opportunity to spent such wonderful moments with my God. I would have been happy with what I got and gone back home,” he says.
When heard about Maradona's demise, Vijayan was at Thiruvanathapuram. “I was watching the news and when I heard it, I screamed, ‘Oh God!’. I couldn’t believe it. I really didn’t want to believe. He is my God and God doesn't die,” he says.
Vijayan says, he went through a similar feeling when he heard about Kalabhavan Mani’s demise. “I couldn’t talk to anybody. So, I did not speak to anyone about it till Thursday evening,” he says.
Maradona, according to Vijayan, loved football more than anything in his life. During the event at Kannur, Vijayan recalls that the footballer refused to cut a cake that was in the shape of a football. “He hesitated initially and later, he agreed to cut only the outer part of the cake. That moment I realised how much football and ground meant to him,” he says.