Maradona celebrates 51st birthday in Dubai

In this handout photo dated Sunday Oct. 30 and made available by Al Wasl Football Company, Diego Maradona, head coach of the Al Wasl club, cuts a cake as he celebrates his 51st birthday next to Marwan Bin Beyat, Chairman of Al Wasl Football Company, 3rd left, with members of the board and players in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP)

Published Tuesday, November 01, 2011

By AP

A homesick Diego Maradona celebrated his 51st birthday in Dubai with his "family away from home" — the Al Wasl club he's been coaching since July.

Al Wasl reaffirmed its faith in the Argentine great Monday, saying the birthday bash was just "one of many celebrations with Maradona."

(AP)

At the party Sunday, Maradona said Al Wasl is "my family away from home." He added: "I still miss my family."

(AFP)

Al Wasl was thrashed 5-0 by Dubai in the Etisalat Cup earlier this month. In the UAE league, Al Wasl is second in the standings behind Al Jazeera after being held to a 1-1 draw Friday by Ajman.