(ANSA) - Diego Maradona's sporting career took a new turn this week when he started work as an instructor at an Italian children's soccer camp.
The Argentine star is sharing his skills with youngsters at the 'Football Academy' of his friend and former Napoli team-mate Salvatore Bagni in the northern town of Cesenatico.
The Italian media turned up in large numbers to watch Maradona's first day on the job, alongside the parents of the 50-odd children aged 6-16 enrolled at the camp.
After polishing up his pupils' technique with a series of structured drills, the soccer genius organized a match with a group of six-year-olds. Maradona ran, passed, dribbled, scored, pulled the kids'
legs and even showed some feline reflexes in goal. He was clearly in his element.
"I like working with youngsters, in them I see myself when I was a child - the same joy, the same hopes," Maradona said with a broad grin at the end of the session as sweat poured off him.
"Soccer and life have one thing in common. They are tough. But with strength and determination the problems can be overcome.
"I hope I can help these kids have a future in football."
The images of the man who took Serie A by storm during his 1984-1991 spell at Napoli will have armed the hearts of his many fans here. Italian supporters were among the most distressed at
reports in recent years of Maradona's health problems, as long spells of overeating and drug abuse started to take their toll.
But the star looked cheerful and in good shape at the camp, after completing a drastic weight-loss programme, which included gastric surgery. The Maradona in action this week is 35 kilos lighter
than his former self of only a few months ago.
Italy's love for the remarkable player is undiminished, 14 years after he abruptly left Napoli amid a drugs scandal.
Earlier this month there were emotional scenes in Naples, when he returned to the city for the first time since 1991 to attend a testimonial match for another ex-Napoli team-mate Ciro Ferrara. Massive groups of fans chanted songs to him outside his hotel in the city for hours each day during the stay. Maradona was also given a magnificent reception by the crowd at Ferrara's farewell game at his former footballing home, the San Paolo Stadium.
The seaside town of Jesolo near Venice has even decided to name a stretch of local coastline after him this summer. Maradona scored 115 goals in 259 appearances during his seven-year stretch at Napoli, leading the team to its only two Italian league titles, an Italian Cup and a UEFA Cup win. He became a god-like figure for the Naples masses, who were finally able to celebrate triumphs rivalling the great northern teams. Shrines to 'San Diego' popped up all around the city and Diego became the most popular name for newborn males. Maradona left Napoli in 1991 after testing positive for cocaine.
Maradoni was scheduled to stay at Bagni's summer camp until the 30th of June.
The crew of celebrated Bosnian director Emir Kusturica were also there, busy making a film about the soccer star.
