MESSAGE TO DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA

My unforgettable friend:

Every day I have the pleasure of watching your program on Telesur, covering the spectacular Soccer World Cup; thanks to that I can see the extraordinarily high level of that universal sport.

 I don’t think it’s possible for the youth of any country to have a proper education without sport and, in the specific case of boys, without including soccer.

Today I am a politician but as a child, teenager and young man I was into sports and I dedicated much of my free time to this noble practice.

I admire your conduct for many reasons. I had the privilege of meeting you when the fairest ideas of our people triumphed and no power on earth was able to crush them.

Nothing has brought us closer together as Latin Americans. You have overcome the most difficult of trials as an athlete and as a young man coming from humble origins.

I send a greeting to Messi who, like you, is a formidable athlete who brings glory to the noble peoples of Argentina; nothing is able to take away what the two of you have in terms of glory and prestige despite the petty efforts of those who plot against you.

I am also congratulating Telesur; it has enriched this steamy summer and I send fraternal greetings to the excellent and prestigious soccer players of Our America, just like you, without forgetting of course that magnificent visionary Víctor Hugo Morales who is discovering your great qualities and who has been so instrumental in divulging the noble values of sport and to the Argentine people whom you represent with honor.

Of course, Diego, I shall never forget the friendship and support you always gave the Bolivarian leader Hugo Chávez, a promoter of sport and the Revolution in Latin America and all downtrodden peoples of the world.

Fraternally,       

Fidel Castro Ruz

June 23, 2014

5:36 p.m.