Bochini, Basualdo and ‘Negro’ Enrique: three World Cup friends of Maradona pay tribute to him on his birthday

The world of football still loves Maradona. The ’10’ would turn 61 today and tributes and nostalgia have not been expected. The series “Sueño Bendito” has even been released to continue admiring us with such a virtuous career and with so many disagreements. The imperfect genius passed away on November 25, 2020 and – for the first time – will be the great absentee in his birthday El “Pelusa”, now a legend, will receive the serenade with his father Don Diego and his mother Doña Tota in some another place, surrounded by peace and joy, shouting a goal, surely, as he used to since he began to take his first steps with the ball in Villa Fiorito. No one can forget it.

Maradona, world champion in Mexico 86 and manager of goals as impossible as they are famous, has left a record of his feats not only in football history books and in the thousands of videos that are now perennialized on YouTube, but also in those that they had the joy of sharing a soccer field with him.

Héctor Enrique, affectionately nicknamed “Negro”, partner of “Pelusa” in the World Cup in Mexico 86 and who led the pass for the “Maradonian” goal to England. Also Ricardo Bochini, partner of the “10” in Mexico 86 and whom Maradona said was his idol; and José Basualdo, Diego’s teammate in the Argentine team during the World Cup in Italy 90.

“Diego is eating barbecue”

World champion with Argentina in Mexico 86, faithful squire and follower of the “Maradoniana” doctrine: Hector Enrique, who gave the pass to his captain for the goal of the century, the work of art against the English, began the commemoration from his “quincho”, an altar made by Enrique himself in homage to Maradona and where he idolizes his former teammate. “They always bring me photos of Diego and me”, he comments in a broken voice through the telephone line.

“He’s eating roast, a stew, he’s having a good time, somewhere”, confessed the former champion with River Plate of the Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental in 86.

“When Diego left, everyone said he couldn’t dribble death, but I said he did. What happens is that he dribbled to the other side, where Don Diego and Dona Tota are, he preferred to stay with them. He did well, I say it with a lot of pain “, adds the older brother of “Loco” Enrique, a former Alianza Lima player.

In Argentina there is no more Argentine than Diego Maradona, confesses the “Negro”. “We love Maradona. He amazed the world with his magic. It is the flag of Argentina. We call him God and he even saved lives “he adds.

When he misses him, he goes to the “barbecue”, takes refuge in his images and videos, remembering him is the only consolation. “We all went behind Diego in 86 ′. No one felt inferior to anyone, but we knew he was the best. There were no egos. We were poor in clothing, boots, but millionaires in pride. We gave everything on the pitch for the good of Argentina. Maradona and Bilardo taught us to respect the wardrobe, the shirt “, narrates with nostalgia.

“When he passed away I didn’t want to go, I was afraid that he would make me feel bad, they were my companions. If you all go, now, I will accompany you. I feel that Diego is with us, in each one “Enrique sentences and after an absolute silence that lasts for a few seconds, he thanks and says goodbye.

“It is a luxury that he has been his idol”

From ’10 ′ to’ D10s’. If there is a footballer that Diego Maradona admired in life for his game with the ball, it was Ricardo Bochini. The top idol of the “King of Cups” and former teammate, with whom he also won the World Cup in Mexico 86, remembered him through a football experience.

“For me it was a luxury that Diego, the best in the world, will tell that I was his idol as a boy. When we met, we had nice talks. Diego was in Argentinos Juniors, they were his beginnings, and he wanted to meet me. He asked me for my shirt, from Independiente, I had it as a souvenir, at that time “Bochini says with his voice somewhat softened by emotion.

In the last tribute he received in the field of the Estadio Libertadores de América, in Avellaneda, the also friend of Peruvian figures such as Percy “Trucha” Rojas and Franco Navarro, heard some words that he still keeps impregnated as an eternal echo. “In front of the public, Diego commented that the name of Independiente’s court had to be called Ricardo Bochini. It was a very great, indescribable emotion that afternoon in Avellaneda. Then came the misfortune that we all know, his departure “, remember.

“He made every superhuman thing that makes him bigger”

In the World Cup Italy 90 ′, while Diego Maradona polished his left boot to shine his best repertoire with the ball, Jose Basualdo, le looked after his back in the midfield of Argentina. “It will always be nice when he bitched the Italians who insulted the anthem in the semifinal or when his ankle was swollen, the doctor did not want to infiltrate him, but Diego took the needle and pricked it by himself. Things that only he could do. Any player in the world bloated, does not play. He then provoked the goal against Brazil for Caniggia to score. He made every superhuman thing that makes him bigger than he was. “, recalls the former coach of the University of Sports in 2005.

Sadness takes hold of him and is evident in his voice when he remembers the death of his friend. “It’s his birthday, but I’m sorry he’s gone, I don’t think so until now”, admits sorry and more serious. “Diego will be on earth until the final judgment. Those responsible must pay. He did not deserve to go alone and in an abandoned bed. They let it go. I believe that the people who were around him in his last moment did him more harm than good. If there had been other more loving people, like his family, the closest ones, that wouldn’t happen. We all hope that justice will be done “, sentence.