Photographs of soccer stars on show

Kozhikode, Jun 23 (UNI) Rare photographs depicting historic soccer events, including ace footballer Diego Maradona with the 1986 World Cup, French Capt Zinedine Zidane head butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final were some of the pictures on display for nostalgic sports buffs in an exhibition which began here today.

Eminent soccer player of yesteryear Wimco Balagopal inaugurated the three-day exhibition, comprising more than 89 pictures, titled as ''Euro 2008'' by handing over a FIFA inspected ball to upcoming footballer Hannan Javed.

Calicut Press Club (CPC) has organised the three-day exhibition.

The football, which was used in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, was donated by Muslim Educational Society President. Dr Fazal Gafoor, an ardent foot ballfan.

The other impressive pictures on show were of Maradonna scoring for Argentina against England in the 1986 cup, 2002 World cup star Ronaldo bracing ahead with the ball, Brazilian recruit of Dempo Goa Cristiano Junior, who fainted and later died after scoring a goal against Mohun Bagan in the Federation Cup in Bangalore on December 4, 2004, among others.

Pictures taken by news photographers of the district during the last couple of years were also part of the exhibition.

A soccer quiz programme for college students was also organised as part of the event, the organizers said.

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