Fans gathered at the Juan Carmelo Zerillo stadium in La Plata, Argentina to mourn the passing of soccer legend Diego Maradona.

Supporters of Gimnasia y Esgrima in La Plata - the club that Diego Maradona last coached, mourned his passing outside the Juan Carmelo Zerillo stadium today (November 25) as soon as the news of the star's death was known.

Flags, banners, lighted candles, chants, and many tears were were on show as the fans of the team - known as El Lobo - gathered to mourn Maradona, who since September had adopted him as their own.

"We always loved him, but since we saw him wearing our colors and shouting 'dale Lobo', like any of us, we love him forever," said fan Javier, who could not hold back his tears.

"Diego was always the people and Gimnasia is the people. That is why we swore eternal love. It was very strong to have him with us, to see the love they gave him everywhere and to him kissing our shield," said Pablo, another fan.

Gabriela, a fan who was present with her daughter, both with the shirt with the name of Maradona and the 10 on the back, stressed that "when they announced that he was going to be the Gimnasia coach nobody could believe".

"We were very bad, and his presence made us happy. Impossible not to love him. Today is a very sad day," he said.

One of the flags hung early on at the main gate of the stadium read "María created Jesús and Doña Tota D10S", with the photo of Diego hugging his mother.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of Gimnasia supporter crying in front of the stadium
2. Various of Gimnasia flag at half mast
3. Various of flag of Maradona and his mother in the Gimnasia stadium
4. Various of Gimnasia supporter crying in front of the stadium
5. Various of flag with Maradona's face
6. Various of Gimnasia supporters singing after Maradona's death
7. SOUNDBITE: OSVALDO, Gimnasia supporter
8. SOUNDBITE: FRANCO, Gimnasia supporter
9. Various of Gimnasia supporters entering the stadium
10. Various of flag with Maradona's face
11. Various of Gimnasia supporters singing after Maradona's death
12. SOUNDBITE: Hugo, Gimnasia supporter

STORYLINE:


Supporters of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, the club that had Diego Maradona as coach, approached the "Juan Carmelo Zerillo" stadium today as soon as the news of the star's death was known, so the leadership decided to open the court's doors so that his followers could express their feelings.

Flags, banners, lighted candles, chants and many tears were the common denominator of the expression of the fans of "Lobo", who since September of the year had taken Diego as their own.

"We always loved him, but since we saw him wearing our colors and shouting 'dale Lobo', like any of us, we love him forever," said a fan named Javier, who could not hold back his tears.

"Diego was always the people and Gimnasia is the people. That is why we swore eternal love. It was very strong to have him with us, to see the love they gave him everywhere and to him kissing our shield," said Pablo, another fan.

Gabriela, a fan who was present with her daughter, both with the shirt with the name of Maradona and the 10 on the back, stressed that "when they announced that he was going to be the Gimnasia coach nobody could believe".

"We were very bad and his presence made us happy. Impossible not to love him. Today is a very sad day," he said.

One of the flags hung early on at the main gate of the stadium read "María created Jesús and Doña Tota D10S", with the photo of Diego hugging his mother.

As the afternoon progressed, the fans were occupying the stadium and places in the stands, with tears and chants like "Diego did not die and lives in the Bosque (Forest were the Stadium of Gimnasia is placed)." For their part, people plan to move to the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires to meet at the Obelisco.


SOUNDBITE: OSVALDO, Gimnasia supporter

"Diego belongs to all Argentines, he gave happiness to all Argentines, that's why today we are in mourning, I would ask the Gymnastics leaders to open the doors and let us in because this was the last field that Diego stepped. Look at his loyalty of El Diego, he came when Gimnasia was in the descent, nobody does that, a guy who has big balls like that, unique "does it".

SOUNDBITE: FRANCO, Gimnasia supporter

"I put on the face mask and came running here, because it is a moment that cannot be understood as it happened, after the week we were living, in Gimnasia you cannot live a quiet week".

"For Argentines it is inexplicable what it represents, for the achievements he achieved, for the achievements he made, and there are no more to say".

SOUNDBITE: Hugo, Gimnasia supporter

"El Diego cries in the soul, not in Gimnasia, but in the whole planet earth, he was the greatest, there is no player like El Diego, let's go Diego!!"