Controversial Mohamed Salah statue becomes subject of ridicule worldwide [Photos]
Football
By
Agencies
| Nov 06, 2018
A statue intended to pay homage to Egyptian hero Mohamed Salah has been ridiculed for barely resembling the Liverpool forward.
The bronze figure, unveiled in Sharm el-Sheikh, depicts Salah in his familiar celebratory pose with both arms held aloft and his palms facing the sky.
The artwork was on display at the World Youth Forum on Sunday.
The statue was created Egyptian sculptor Mia Abdel Allah who told the Egyptian Independent that she ‘found it is distinguished and executable’.
That view was not shared by all, with fans on Twitter likening the statue to Art Garfunkel, Simply Red front man Mick Hucknall and former Arsenal striker Alan Sunderland.
READ MORE
Ngugi wa Thiong'o and the African literary revolution
Tanzania doctor describes bodies taken from morgue as fresh protests loom
Kenya submits bid to host 2029, 2031 World Athletics Championships
Confusion over hardship allowance as teachers left in limbo
Why debt cancellation is Africa's last hope for climate justice
Kenya secures historic win to host global forestry congress
TSC to pay terminal benefits to teachers exiting service
COP30: Fund climate communication to the grassroots
Leo Sayer and Marv from the movie Home Alone were suggested as other potential look-a-likes.
There were unfavourable comparisons to the strange statue of Cristiano Ronaldo that was unveiled at Madeira airport in March 2017.
An odd statue of Diego Maradona, unveiled in India, was another classic of the genre, with fans claiming there was a closer likeness to Roy Hodgson or Susan Boyle.
Salah scored 32 goals in a remarkable debut season for Liverpool, winning the Professional Footballer’s Association player of the year as well as helping Egypt to their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
Salah’s contribution in Russia was thwarted by the effects of a dislocated shoulder suffered in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Sergio Ramos.
His goalscoring for Liverpool so far this season has not been quite so prodigious, and he was criticised by Martin Keown for his performance in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Arsenal.
“I look at Salah, and he doesn’t look the real deal for me,” the former Arsenal defender said to BT Sport.
“When you really look at him, he was really quiet today. Something is wrong.
“Maybe the injury he has is affecting him and he doesn’t want to get hurt. He’s not really the same player.”