Maradona’s imprint on Deportivo Riestra, Grêmio’s Sudamericana foes who make their own kits | OneFootball

Grêmio host Deportivo Riestra in the Sudamericana on Tuesday, and the club bears Maradona’s imprint. The Argentine great, who died in 2020, acted as mentor and almost played for a side that reached the top flight in 2024.

Olé reported in 2014 that, after being asked to coach, Maradona said he wanted to play, an idea investor Víctor Stinfale considered but it never happened. Stinfale, a businessman and lawyer behind the Speed energy drink brand, backed the club and invited his friend for talks and training.

In 2015 a barbecue preceded a talk before a third-tier game with Platense, which Riestra lost 2-1. That August, after a 2-1 win over San Miguel, players carried Maradona, who brought his father to the 3,000-capacity Guillermo Laza stadium and urged the team on from the stands.

In 2017, aged 57, he joined a session with the youth players and gave a free-kick tutorial. Founded in 1931, the club spent decades in obscurity and were disaffiliated by AFA in 1990 for the worst average in the bottom tier.

The squad includes 25 players who rose from the lower leagues, with Jonathan Herrera and Jonatan Goitía who played in Primera D. Riestra buy Adidas kit and customise it, so there is no formal supplier.

Their trip to Porto Alegre is their first abroad. They are bottom of Apertura Group A with 7 points from 13 games, and have one win in 15 this year. Former Emelec coach Guillermo Duró took charge two games ago.

Source: Globo.com