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The best since Maradona: The footballing warrior from Fort Apache
Carlos Tevez's status as one of football's emerging superstars is no surprise to those who watched him grow up
"Redondo, Riquelme, Cambiasso, Colocinni, Sorin, Gago..." Ramon Madonni proudly reels off the names of some of the 70 professional players he has discovered. It reads like a Who's Who of Argentine football, but the legendary youth coach is under no doubt as to whom he considers the best of the lot. "Tevez is the biggest explosion in Argentine football since Maradona," is his description of the kid from Fort Apache who has captured the hearts of West Ham fans.
Madonni, 62, works for Boca Juniors and first saw Tevez play when he was eight years old. "He was just different," he says, "but when I say different, I suppose I mean he was just better than everyone else. He was playing for Santa Clara, the team from Fort Apache, against my team, El Parque, who were the best in the area, but he ran us a merry dance that day.
"He played just as he does today, running all over the opposition's area, beating everyone. He had lots of aggression and chased everything. So we invited him to join El Parque. Maradona is something unique, something apart, so we never compare anyone with him, but, after Maradona, Tevez is the best Argentina has produced."
(continue)
Carlos Tevez's status as one of football's emerging superstars is no surprise to those who watched him grow up
"Redondo, Riquelme, Cambiasso, Colocinni, Sorin, Gago..." Ramon Madonni proudly reels off the names of some of the 70 professional players he has discovered. It reads like a Who's Who of Argentine football, but the legendary youth coach is under no doubt as to whom he considers the best of the lot. "Tevez is the biggest explosion in Argentine football since Maradona," is his description of the kid from Fort Apache who has captured the hearts of West Ham fans.
Madonni, 62, works for Boca Juniors and first saw Tevez play when he was eight years old. "He was just different," he says, "but when I say different, I suppose I mean he was just better than everyone else. He was playing for Santa Clara, the team from Fort Apache, against my team, El Parque, who were the best in the area, but he ran us a merry dance that day.
"He played just as he does today, running all over the opposition's area, beating everyone. He had lots of aggression and chased everything. So we invited him to join El Parque. Maradona is something unique, something apart, so we never compare anyone with him, but, after Maradona, Tevez is the best Argentina has produced."
(continue)
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