The love of Napoli for the Pibe de Oro it is so big that it has overcome every bureaucratic obstacle and more. Stadium St. Paul it has now become Diego Armando Maradona stadium. The idea came from the mayor Luigi De Magistris and by the councilor for Toponymy, Alessandra Clemente, shortly after the news of the tragic disappearance of Maradona at the age of 60 years, last 25th November. Today, after 9 days the official name change arrives, with a resolution unanimously signed by the municipal council. The last act to transform the Neapolitan dream into reality is the signing of the prefect of Naples, Marco Valentini, which could arrive in the next few hours.
Among the reasons for the resolution just approved by the municipality of Naples it is read: "Maradona embodied the redemption symbol of a team to which, in the darkest years, he demonstrated that it is possible to get up, win and triumph, while offering a message of hope and beauty to the entire city because, through football victories of the Argentine champion, not only the Napoli team won, but the whole city, which fully identifies with him; always on the side of the weakest and of the common people, Maradona fought the prejudices and discrimination to which the Neapolitans were still subjected inside the stadiums, becoming the idol of the entire city, which also forgave him the weaknesses and frailties of man who never overshadowed the greatness of the champion".
Diego Armando Maradona Stadium: Don Tonino Palmese's proposal
However, the idea of the new Diego Armando Maradona stadium was not appreciated by everyone. A few days ago, the episcopal vicar of the Church of Naples, Don Tonino Palmese, had launched an appeal not to change the name of the stadium. In a letter to the prefect, who had immediately given the green light for the proposed by De Magistris, the priest had asked not to remove the name San Paolo, but to make the two souls, religious and football, coexist.
In fact, his proposal was to name the stadium after both, with the nickname "San Paolo stadium in Maradona" or "San Paolo - Maradona". Considering the approval of the resolution for the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, this proposal did not find favor with the prefect and the Neapolitans. Maradona is a "piezz '' and core”Of Naples and the dedication of the stadium to his memory is the best way to honor him. A footballer who made Napoli great and made the Neapolitans proud he could only be remembered in this magnificent way. Goodbye St. Paul of Naples and welcome to Diego Armando Maradona Stadium!
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