A statue of soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo erected in the Indian state of Goa sparked outrage among some locals, who claim it is an “insult” to those who suffered during Portuguese colonization in the past.
Indeed, the statue of “CR7”, whose status as a world idol extends to Goa, where both he and soccer are widely popular, sought to “inspire” young people in the region, according to authorities. However, some locals consider that the gesture has reopened old wounds of the Portuguese colonial empire, during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of its liberation.
The inauguration of the statue was delayed by the appearance of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it would have cost 12 lakhs, a sum that translates to more than $ 16,000, and weighs more than 410 kilograms.
Via: RT
For the love of football and at the request of our youth we put up Cristiano Ronaldo’s statue in the park to inspire our youngsters to take football to greater heights. It was an honour to inaugurate the beautification of open space, landscaping, garden with foundation & walkway. pic.twitter.com/VU5uvlSlMT
— Michael Lobo (@MichaelLobo76) December 28, 2021
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