Skip to main content

Cristiano Ronaldo-Divided Opinion Over Statue In India

Cristiano Ronaldo statue divides opinion in India.

A newly unveiled statue of Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo is dividing opinion in India.

Placed in the western Goa state, where football is hugely popular, officials hope it will inspire young people.

But Goa is also a former Portuguese colony, and it is 60 years since the state was freed from Portugal.

Critics say local football players should have been honoured, especially since several past and present members of India's national team are Goan.

Very disappointed to hear of the statue of Ronaldo being erected. Learn to take pride in our own icons like Samir Naik and Bruno Coutinho," a local Goan told the IANS news agency.

During the statue's inauguration, some people waved black flags in protest, the Times of India newspaper reported.

Portugal's football team is popular in Goa, and due to its colonial past, many locals have lived in Portugal or have family there.

But some people in the Indian state feel it is insulting to install the statue during the 60th anniversary celebrations of Goa finally winning freedom from Portuguese rule, which happened 14 years after the rest of India became independent from British rule.

"To erect a statue of a Portuguese footballer this year is sacrilegious. We condemn this," IANS quoted right-wing activist Guru Shirodkar as saying.

"There are many freedom fighters in Goa who have been insulted," he added.

Michael Lobo, a local lawmaker in the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tweeted a photo of himself with the statue, saying that it had been installed "at the request of our youth" to inspire them "to take football to greater heights".

Although cricket remains India's most popular sport, football - especially the English Premier League - is a favourite in certain pockets of the country - Kerala in the south, Goa in the west, West Bengal in the east and all of the eight north-eastern states.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Manchester United, is adored by many fans and widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of the game.

The 36-year-old forward has not commented publicly on the statue.

This is not the first time a statue of him has raised eyebrows - in 2017 a bust of Ronaldo was widely mocked and eventually replaced in Madeira airport in Portugal.

Culled: BBC NEWS 


Comments

  1. Hermosa29 December 2021 at 23:56

    Cricket has always been India's most popular sport. They should have erected a well known cricket player instead of Ronaldo 😂😂 Abeg they should remove it 😂😂. I support them biko 😂😂

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Type your comments here

Popular posts from this blog

Professor Isah Odidi, 16 Others Appointed As Directors By The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council

  Professor Isa Odidi and His Excellency the Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar. The Peoples Democratic Party Appoints Directors And Deputy Directors To Kick-Start Campaign.                                 Professor Isah Odidi, has been appointed as Director, Diaspora Group by the Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This appointment was contain in a Press Release on Thursday, October 06, 2022 issued by the Campaign Organisation’s Director-General and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal. Professor Isah Odidi, a distinguished pharmacist, an erudite scientist,  a technocrat and tireless researcher will indeed propagate the good virtues of the great party, the PDP and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the Diaspora.  Professor Odidi, has always asserted that Atiku  Abubakar is a unifier and the best candidate to move the Nigerian nation forward, ushe...
8 comments
Read more

Video Update - Bianca Ojukwu And Willie Obiano's Wife Saga

The Internet is buzzing, there is a media uproar, the media outlets are now giving a clearer version of what happened between the former beauty queen and wife to the late warlord, Bianca Ojukwu and the wife of the former Governor of Anambra State Ebelechukwu Willie Obiano. Fresh stories indicate that Bianca Ojukwu initiated the slap. She slapped Willie Obiano's wife and it is not the other way round as earlier reported. The moment Bianca slapped Obiano’s wife during Soludo’s inauguration happened thus. The scuffle occurred on Thursday at the inauguration of Chukwuma Soludo as governor of the state. Soludo was sworn in at the government house in Anambra. Dignitaries, including Obiano, were already seated when Ebelechukwu Obiano, Willie Obiano's wife stood up from her seat and moved to where Bianca, widow of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, was seated and spoke to her. Although Ebelechukwu was inaudible, the video showed how Bianca rose and gave her a slap, leading to a commotion. Whichever w...
3 comments
Read more

In a Flash - Nigerian News Dailies

PREMIUM TIMES Aregbesola attacks Tinubu, says APC leader ‘planned evil’ for Osun people"We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compares himself to God." UPDATED: Abba Kyari: Police yet to disband IRT, STS satellite unitsThe police said the two units are still intact. UPDATED: Buhari submits supplementary budget of N2.55trn to NASS, makes provision for subsidyMr Buhari said the budget is meant to provide for subsidy on petroleum products from June to December 2022. Source: Premium Times GUARDIAN NDLEA releases shocking details of Kyari’s drug deals •Rights group hails NDLEA •It’s a tragic end to a glorious era, says Sagay • He should be charged to court immediately, says Falana •His lawyer alleges set up. Regulator mum over scarcity as NNPC relocates team to Lagos Telecom sector’s challenges cut-off five million users from networks in 2021. ASUU ruffles JAMB, Pantami as it fires four-week warning shot. So...
Post a Comment
Read more