Naples holds Maradona day on his 50th birthday (Feature)

By Alberto Cagliano Oct 27, 2010, 18:54 GMT

Rome - Diego Maradona would have loved to celebrate his 50th birthday on Saturday playing for his former Napoli before an adoring crowd in his beloved Naples.

Friends and ex team-mates were ready to stage such a game at the San Paolo stadium, where Maradona played seven memorable seasons, helping Napoli win two Serie A titles, a UEFA Cup and an Italian Cup.

The organizers, however, realized that it could have been a costly outing for the Argentine living legend.

Italy's tax officials would probably not have interfered with the game, but Maradona would undoubtedly have been visited by them soon after the final whistle was blown.

This, in turn, would probably have resulted in Maradona forfeiting money or goods to pay for a huge tax bill that the former footballer, who is considered a notorious tax evader by the Italian treasury, faces in Italy.

A couple of luxury wristwatches, a diamond earring and money from a television appearance were seized by officers in recent years when Maradona briefly returned to Italy.

The values of these items, however, only marginally dented a tax debt that is estimated to top 34 million euros (47 million dollars) on his birthday.

His exile, however, has not thwarted the enthusiasm of the Naples fans, who have organized a day-long 'giubileo maradoniano' on Friday.

The 'Numero 10,' which Napoli retired in 2000, will set the tempo for a series of events beginning with an 8:10 a.m. breakfast and ending 10 minutes past midnight with 'Diego set,' a show including dances, songs, a giant cake and a chocolate statue of the striker.

The Bar Nilo, where the jubilee begins, has a small shrine containing a framed hair from Maradona's scalp, bearing his signature to confirm authenticity.

At 9:10 fans will meet at a shop where the Di Virgilio brothers are to present the statue of a playing Maradona that will be part of their next nativity scene - an established Christmas tradition in Naples.

It appears that the craftsmen took inspiration from the goal that Maradona scored with his hand against England at the 1986 World Cup, which he lifted as Argentina captain in Mexico.

The second of Maradona's goals in that memorable 2-1 win will come back to life at an aperitif featuring a reading of 'The long story of the most beautiful goal in the world,' a short story by sports writer Maurizio De Giovanni.

A 2008 novel by the same De Giovanni, 'Juve-Napoli 1-3. The taking of Turin,' was turned into a play that has often been performaned throughout Italy.

It recalls a historic win that Napoli snatched in November 1986 as experienced by four fans who drove across Italy to witness one of their side's most thrilling wins.

The 50th birthday has triggered an increase in the already rich Italian literature about Maradona, with Mimmo Carratelli's 'Dear Diego - Maradona's 50 years' being presented this week.

'We wanted to be Maradona' by Rosario Cuomo is to be launched Friday, followed later in the day by 'My friend D,' a monologue where the protagonist identifies with his hero.

'DWD,' an acronym meaning 'Go Diego, go,' is a collection of footage and documentaries on the footballer that will be shown at a cinema.

Rumours have circulated that the same facility could be the right place for a possible video conference with Maradona.

Despite his absence, the ties between the player and the city of Naples have never shown signs of weakening.

A Te Diegum conference, punning on the Christian hymn Te Deum, was held in Naples in May 1991, a couple of months after Maradona's abrupt departure in the wake of a doping scandal.

His love story with Napoli began in July 1984, when 70,000 people filled the San Paolo to watch his official presentation after a lengthy negotiation with Barcelona.

Then came the troubles with cocaine, the alleged connection with local Camorra bosses, the relationship with a Naples woman and a son whom Maradona has never fully recognized.

He was back in Naples in 2005 for the farewell game of his ex team-mate Ciro Ferrara, and for a charity game in 2006, when police took his two watches.

What Naples fans will never forget, though, are his goals and feats on the pitch and a period when Napoli for the first time took centre stage in Italian football.

His life on and off the pitch has provided material for the works being submitted until Friday for the literary contest 'I saw Maradona.'

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