Newly installed statue of Ronaldo sparks controversy in Goa

The state authorities neglected Indian football legends

A large brass statue of footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has sparked a controversy in Goa. The statue, which was inaugurated on Tuesday, with the aim of inspiring youngsters to take up football or other sports triggered a black flag protest at the site.

The protestors are angry with the state authorities for neglecting Indian football legends like Arjuna award winner and the former Indian football captain Bruno Coutinho. The protestors were also angry that a player from Portugal was seen as a particular affront, given that the European country occupied Goa as a colony for centuries, only leaving 60 years ago.

Michael Lobo, a minister in the Goa state government, on Wednesday, tweeted that, “this is the first statue of Ronaldo in India, aimed at promoting football as a sport and to inspire young people to play the game.”

“We require a good infrastructure for our boys and girls to go there and play. The statue is only to inspire. We want good grounds from the government, good infrastructure and good coaches,” he added.

Lobo further added that despite India's vast population, the country's football team could not beat even the small nations and that player who has brought laurels for Goa and India should be given proper coaching facilities in every Goa village.

"People who come to the Cristiano Ronaldo Park will be inspired to become like him and play for Goa and India... We want to inspire Calangute, Candolim and the coastal belt villages first, then the rest of India," he said.

Meanwhile, the owner of a popular nightclub, Titos in Calangute, Ricardo D'Souza, has said that statues of local football icons like Bruno Coutinho and Samir Naik should have been installed instead.

"Very disappointed to hear of the statue of Ronaldo being inaugurated. Learn to take pride in our icons like Samir Naik and Bruno Coutinho," he said.

Ronaldo has not yet commented publicly on the statue in Goa. In 2017, there was another controversy when a bust of the striker was widely mocked and eventually replaced at the airport on the Portuguese island of Madeira.