Diego Maradona: When the legend lit up Hong Kong Stadium in 1982
- As a 21-year-old, the Argentinian led Boca Juniors to a 2-0 victory over top Hong Kong side Seiko in an exhibition game in January, 1982
- Former Seiko star Derek Currie remembers drinking with Maradona in Central and being at Aztec Stadium for his ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986
Diego Maradona was still four years away from winning the World Cup with Argentina when he arrived in Hong Kong in 1982 for an exhibition match against Seiko – but he was already a megastar in the football world and local fans came out in force to watch him.
At just 21 years old, Maradona – who died in November 2020 aged 60 after suffering a heart attack – had already displayed the kind of skills that had him mentioned in the same breath as Pele, and his journey to infamy and greatness with Italian side Napoli and Argentina was only just starting.
Despite an overall disappointing match, Maradona stood out and delighted the 27,380 fans with his full repertoire of skills as he led a Boca Juniors side that featured fellow 1986 World Cup winner Oscar Ruggeri to a 2-0 victory over Hong Kong’s top team Seiko on January 10, 1982.
The local side brought in a host of Dutch guest players, as well as Germany great Gerd Muller, with local icon Wu Kwok-hung – who captained the side – and Au Wing-hung the only Hong Kong players in the squad.
Derek Currie, among the first foreign professionals to play in Hong Kong, had left Seiko by that time but had a drink with Maradona and his teammates after the game.