Both Messi and Maradona better than Pele: Camino

For an Argentine, it's always difficult to answer whether Lionel Messi is greater than Diego Maradona, but it's always politically right to say that both are better than their Brazilian rival Pele.

On an inspection tour for Argentina's international friendly against Venezuela on September 2, Argentina's assistant coach Julian Camino, leading a three-member delegation, did well to dodge the question saying both Messi and Maradona were better than Pele.

"It's very difficult to answer this being an Argentine," Camino and his deputy said in unison.

"Both have been at their best of skills in two different eras. But we can say Messi and Maradona are better than Pele," Camino added.

Camino, however, refused to answer when asked what went wrong with Messi in the Copa America, in which they lost to eventual champions Uruguay in the quarters.

"It's not the right platform to answer this question. I am not the right person to answer this. But I can say nobody is like Messi. He is like no one," the former defender said.

Camino was hired by Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella who replaced Sergio Batista, after their Copa America flop show.

A former East Bengal medio in the 1988, Camino also recollected his stint in the Maidan.

"I am really happy to be back here (after more than 22 years). I played really well here and have some good memories. I was here for about four months. I feel nostalgic," Camino said.

In his breif stint with East Bengal, then coached by Indian football legend P K Banerjee, Camino played 20 matches in the Calcutta Football League, Sikkim Gold Cup, Federation Cup, DCM Trophy and Rovers Cup.

Giving details about the ticket sales which is gaining momentum as the day nears, he said: "As of now we have sold 24,000 of the 100,000 tickets. The demand is picking up."

He further said they were selling tickets at a discounted price of INR 250, 350 and 450 to kids who play regular football.

"We want to promote the game. State sports minister Madan Mitra had requested to lower the price further. But the commercial aspect did not allow us to sell the tickets lesser than INR 700," Goswami said.

He further said they have made special arrangement for media with additional 200 seats outside the 100-capacity press box.