FIFA U-17 WC: Gandhi, Teresa widely admired Indians in Mexico, says coach

Mario Arteaga, the Mexico coach in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, said Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa were admired “in the entire Americas.”

Mario Arteaga (left) and captain Luis Olivas at a press meet in Guwahati.

It was not the answer the concerned reporter expected when he asked Mario Arteaga, the Mexico coach in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, whether the team ventures out during such a high profile event to absorb the local culture.

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After answering in the negative, the 46-year-old spoke about Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa and their influence on the Americas.

“There are so many important personalities in India. But for Americas there are [only] two foreign persons who represent India whom they admire in the entire Americas, especially in our country. They want to know as much as possible about the two,” he said.

While there are statues of Gandhi and Theresa in Mexico, a stamp was released in the Central American nation to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of Nation in 1969.