'He had pure natural talent’ - Napoli supporters club hosts Maradona exhibition

The Napoli Supporters’ Club is hosting an exhibition for charity dedicated to legendary football player Diego Maradona. 

Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 and became a footballing icon in Naples after leading Napoli to their first two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990. His spell at the club transformed both player and city into symbols of pride, defiance and sporting genius.

He died in 2020, aged 60. 

The exhibition consists of 20 pieces mostly related to Maradona, and includes items such as signed football shirts, boots, shin guards, training kits and casual sportswear worn by the legendary attacking midfielder, as well as numerous photos. 

Maradona fans can check out the exhibition today at the club’s premises on Triq Il-Fortizza in Mosta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Gordon Bonnici, the supporters’ club’s public relations officer, explained that the club’s former president, the late Frans Debono, had always wanted to host such an exhibition in Malta. The idea has now been brought to fruition by his son and successor, Alex. 

Most of the items come from the Museo Maradona in Naples’ Spanish Quarter, run by Massimo Vignati, who was a groundsman at the stadium, while his wife was Maradona’s housekeeper and his daughter babysat his children. 

Bonnici said the most valuable pieces in the collection were those that could be traced to a specific game, such as a pair of gloves worn by Maradona during a European Cup round-of-16 clash against CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital in 1990. Napoli went on to lose the game, which was to be Maradona’s last in the competition. 

The football boots worn by the Argentine football player are on display in the exhibition. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Bonnici, 50, said he had fond memories of watching Maradona on TV as a 13-year-old. 

“Maltese people my age support Napoli because of him. He had pure natural talent  - no one had seen the things he did with the ball before. Thinking about him, and especially his death, still brings tears to my eyes,” he said, adding that he also admired the player for never forgetting his humble roots. 

Bonnici also mentioned Napoli’s little-known Maltese connection. Sports historian Charles Camenzuli has documented that Maltese footballers Lucino Ellul, Salvu Troisi and Raoul Attard played for Naples Foot-Ball Club and Internazionale Napoli in the years before the modern SSC Napoli was formally established in 1926. 

The footballers shin guards, alongside some information about Maradona's matchday rituals. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Aside from Maradona memorabilia, the exhibition also includes an Argentina shirt worn by Maradona’s Argentina teammate Claudio Caniggia – complete with blood stain - as well as items related to current Argentina captain Lionel Messi. 

The Napoli supporters’ club was founded in 1991 and has 200 members.  

The exhibition is taking place today, Saturday 7 July, from 10am until 6pm at the club’s premises on Triq Il-Fortizza in Mosta, and is in aid of Puttinu Cares.