DUBAI: Diego Maradona has agreed a further one-year deal to continue as the ‘honorary sports ambassador of Dubai’.

Maradona was sacked as coach of Dubai-based club Al Wasl after only one season, but has since spent the past year traveling the world promoting Dubai’s sporting credentials.

The Dubai Sports Council has said the 52-year-old has turned down coaching offers from foreign clubs to serve in the role.

Dr Ahmed Al Sharif, DSC secretary general, said: “Diego Maradona has been a legend on the field, and over the past year, he has brought in so much added value to Dubai on and off the sports field. Dubai has been the best and busiest sporting destination in the Middle East. And with a personality like Diego Maradona we are confident Dubai will continue getting the attention it rightly deserves.”

The DSC views its association with Maradona as strategically important with South America staging the FIFA World Cup next year.

Ahmed added: “For us, Diego Maradona has always been the true face of sports and sporting events we organise through the season. And with the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year we are confident he will bring in much more through this association with Dubai and the Dubai Sports Council.”

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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

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