DUBAI // Diego Maradona rocked up late on his return to Al Wasl, but in truth he could have skipped the match and headed straight to the post-match reunion with old friends.
The Argentine, invited back to the club he managed for 14 manic months across 2011 and 2012, took his seat alongside Rashid Belhoul, the Wasl chairman, on Saturday for his former side’s Arabian Gulf League match against Dubai club, then probably quickly realised it was a grave error of judgement.
Such was the fare on show, Maradona could have stayed home and caught the highlights on his flat screen, although he may have struggled to find any.
The strange thing was, there was much to play for, especially where the visitors to the Zabeel Stadium were concerned. Dubai are the division’s bottom side, with two victories from 20 attempts, and are rapidly running out of time to secure their top-flight status.
Following an insipid stalemate here, they have six matches to save their season. Seven points from safety, it appears an unlikely venture. Wasl, too, have something to prove, given a frustrating campaign has prompted another swirl of managers and a completely new board.
With a transitional summer ahead, players are surely playing for their futures. Tenth position, as they sit now, is not good enough for a club with seven UAE league titles – the second highest in the country – and there was little against Dubai to suggest a change of fortune anytime soon.
Perhaps old Diego, albeit far from his vintage, would have been better off pulling out his boots and lending a hand. After all, he hasbefore. The smattering of Wasl supporters seemed to agree, for when they found rare voice, all that could be heard echoing around the stadium was "Maradona, Maradona, Maradona".
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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