Maradona to star for Matthaus

Diego Maradona in full flight against England

Diego Maradona has been declared fit to appear in the testimonial match in Munich for German superstar Lothar Matthaus.

The latter stages of the Argentine legend's career has been dogged by drug addiction but his physicians believe he is much healthier now than when he arrived in Cuba in January.

Maradona has undergone treatment for a heart condition and the cocaine addiction that caused it and is reported to have lost 10 kilograms.

Dr. Pedro Llerena, director of La Pradera rehabilitation center in Havana, added: "He is very stabilized and balanced now. All of his signs are returning or have returned to normal."

Despite Maradona seemingly making a speedy recovery, Llerena said that Maradona's rehabilitation had not been completed and needs to return for his treatments right after the match.

Maradona is to arrive in Germany several days before the game and leave for Cuba the day afterward.

Maradona is staying with an entourage of family, friends and trainers at a medically oriented hotel for foreigners on the outskirts of Havana.

He chose to be treated in Cuba because of difficulties in obtaining a visa to the United States.

FIFA, soccer's governing body, suspended him for 15 months after he tested positive for stimulants during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Matthaus, who recently set a world record of 144 international caps against Holland, believes Maradona was the most brilliant player of his generation.

Matthaus and Maradona faced each other twice in the World Cup. In 1986 in Mexico City when Argentina won 3-2 and in 1990 in Rome with Germany winning 1-0.