Gustavo Bazzan
11/26/2020 1:18 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 11/26/2020 1:18 PM
Eduardo Dosisto was the leader who rented the first apartment to Diego Maradona
to get him out of Villa Fiorito.
He was head of the Argentinos Juniors Soccer Commission and approached the Maradona family home to
convince Diego's parents
that the future soccer star should move closer to the Argentinos Juniors field.
Argerich 2750, the first apartment that Maradona inhabited after living in Villa Fiorito.
In an autobiographical book, Dosisto recalls
how that first full meeting with the Maradona family was, in October 1976
, where he was entertained by
a barbecue
prepared, naturally, by
Don Diego, Maradona's father
.
Dosisto fondly recalls that Maradona's father, in gratitude to the club, always preferred to go see Argentinos Juniors, even when Maradona was playing for Boca.
This hot noon in November 2020, Dosisto spoke with
Clarín,
visibly struck by Diego's death and the images that came from the massive wake at the Casa Rosada.
“Today I cry with sadness, but before Diego made me cry a lot with joy.
What is happening ... poor kid ... so young.
The life he made ... a shame ... "
Dosisto recalls that the first rental contract for the apartment on
2750 Argerich
Street
- 15 blocks from the Argentinos court - was signed on October 30, 1976, just the day of Maradona's 16th birthday.
He also remembers that the
Villafañe family
lived right next to the apartment where Maradona would move
.
Diego met Claudia Villafañe there when she was 13 years old.
Eduardo Dosisto and Don Diego Maradona.
On what it meant to leave Villa Fiorito, Dosisto recalls.
"Jorge Cyterszpiler would go to look for him on Friday and stay at his house, because if it rained on the weekend Diego could not leave Villa Fiorito."
Dosisto tells this story in
"Memoirs of an apothecary"
, his autobiography, from the
MT Ediciones
publishing house
published in 2009
.
The title of the book refers to the fact that, in addition to being the leader of Argentinos, Dosisto is the owner of the RP pharmacy chain and presided over the Association of Friends of Corrientes Street for many years.
Next, the chapter where he tells his relationship with the Maradona.
"Loyalties"
Until 1955 I went with my brother Carlos to see Racing every Sunday because the team of my loves, Argentinos Juniors, played on Saturdays in the Primera B. But 1955 was not just any year;
Argentinos Juniors and Unión were the main entertainers of the contest in the first round and, in the retaliation, the La Paternal team was taking an advantage that became wide with the running of the dates and was a brilliant champion.
That year Argentinos promoted to first and I stopped following Racing.
At the club, I traveled the path from being a fan to a manager.
In that role, while I was President of the Argentinos Juniors Soccer Commission,
I saw Diego Armando Maradona play in the “Los Cebollitas” team
and I even had the satisfaction of knowing where he lived.
He and his family were in Villa Fiorito and it was my turn to rent him his first apartment, at Argerich 2750.
I remember that at that time I had a Torino when we went with the club's secretary, Mr. Rodríguez, to Villa Fiorito.
We had to dare to walk through that area that was on the banks of the Riachuelo
, accompanied on our journey by dogs as brave as the neighborhood, who did not stop barking.
There, at the Maradona home,
I ate one of the richest roasts of my life
prepared by Don Diego, the father.
The whole family gathered around the table welcomed us: parents, grandparents, siblings.
I should have talked to everyone to convince them to take Diego to live in another neighborhood and also tell them that we had already rented him an apartment on Argerich Street.
It was difficult for them because it was like a detachment
, Pelusa lived there and grew up there, it was to get him out of his place, out of his roots.
Some time later, the club, with some of the money Diego was already earning, bought him a house in Lascano and Terrero.
We all collaborated with something to help
equip that first house of our own where the idol pigeon lived with his parents and his brothers, Hugo and Lalo
.
And that's how little by little, he moved away from Villa Fiorito, where his sisters and grandparents were staying.
The parents were very good people and
my greatest affection is for Don Diego,
a wonderful human being.
It never ceases to amaze me how recognized he is, that he continues to go frequently to the Diego Armando Maradona stadium;
This is how the Argentinos Juniors field was baptized in honor of the greatest idol of our soccer, where his son showed his magic from the beginning.
I think that no one will have seen this man often in the Bombonera;
he goes to see Argentinos Juniors because he is a grateful man.
His grandchildren, Diego's nephews, now play at the club.
There is always a Maradona playing for Argentinos.
Although he is from Boquense, Don Diego stayed with Argentinos
in recognition of all that the club gave to his family.
I believe that Maradona was a unique soccer phenomenon.
Too bad he got off track, but each one chooses his life and I have no authority to say he was wrong, because with Diego I cried with emotion because of everything he gave to football.
He is very personal, capricious and authoritarian, but I prefer to keep the memory of everything he was for my club and I am very happy that since 2004 our remodeled stadium bears his name.
Against all assumptions, it was really very difficult to get Diego to allow us to call him that, but finally, after a few twists and turns, he authorized it.
In 1977, Diego had already made his debut in first class.
I remember that we put together a special match for him so that he could play close to his soccer idol: Ricardo Bochini.
It was on the Velez court, between Argentinos Juniors and Talleres de Córdoba, and great figures played.
For Argentinos Bochini played 10, Diego put 9, Jota Jota López played 8 and Gatti saved in the goal;
the game was played against that famous team that had workshops so that Diego would indulge himself in having his idol as a partner.
Time wanted Diego to be from Boca and I am astonished when he says that his whole life was from Boca Juniors.
If I know him from that time when he
always praised Bochini and his heart beat with Independiente…
I think that Diego with Boca is a matter of feelings, it is what he sells, because Boca is half plus one.
Independent was too small for him and Argentines not to mention ... That is why I think that, each one in his own way, does not have to forget what he was, the place where he started, or the opportunities he had.
It is as if I forgot the affectionate affection that I felt for my Pharmacy "Los Angeles", the one where I delivered orders, washed the floors and where I learned to take my first steps in the pharmaceutical world.
But please!
That money does not make us forget where we come from ... luckily, from my old people I learned a rule that governs my life with the force of the great truths: be loyal to myself.
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Diego Maradona's family wants to end the wake at 4:00 p.m., but the Government asks him to extend it