Goa to raise statues of Maradona, Ronaldo

Brass statues of football legends Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronalado will be erected in the popular beach village of Candolim in North Goa to inspire youngsters to take up the game, Goa Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said on Tuesday.

"We will erect a statue of (Cristiano) Ronaldo at this park and another statue of (Diego) Maradona at the Candolim football ground in order to inspire the youth of Goa. We want the youth to get inspired by the legends of football. This is a football lovers' village and many youngsters play football here," Lobo told reporters after inaugurating a multi-purpose park in Candolim village, located in his Assembly constituency of Calangute.

"Maradona's statue will be made of full brass weighing up to 500 kg. That is our plan for the statues," Lobo also said.

While the statue of Ronaldo will be erected at the garden, a statue of the Argentine living legend Diego Maradona will be erected at the Candolim football ground, which regularly hosts inter-village matches, the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA added.

Football is the official sport of Goa, a state which has several top flight football clubs like Dempo Sports Club, Salgaocar Sports Club and Churchill Brothers, who have made it to the top of the national football league consistently over the decades.

--IANS

maya/ahm/mr