Residents revolt and ask that local athletes be honored instead of Portuguese
The statue of Cristiano Ronaldo was criticized for being an athlete born in Portugal, a country that dominated Goa until 1961.a statue of a Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldowho currently plays for Manchester United, caused a rebellion and became the target of protests in the southern state of Goa. IndiaFor residents, local officials were insensitive to honor a sports star born to a former colonial power who ruled the state from 1510 to 1961. Several protesters with black flags gathered at the scene after the statue was unveiled in Calangute city this week. Indian sports stars should be honored instead of Portuguese. Former player Mickey Fernandes, originally from Goa, said the election was “painful” and has been seen as a “hangover” from the Portuguese rule. “Ronaldo is the best player in the world, but we still have the idol of a Goa player,” Fernandes said. Most of India gained independence in 1947, and from the United Kingdom; Goa, on the other hand, became an autonomous region administered by India in 1961 after a brief armed conflict with Portugal, and became a full-fledged state in 1987.
*With information from AFP
