Manchester United and Aston Villa’s former Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich also shared on Twitter the image that has just begun circulating about the statue of Ferenc Puskás in Melbourne. The former football player added that he was ashamed of the condition the work of art is in and at the same time asked who was responsible for maintaining the statue.
On the left, you can see what the statue looked like at the February 2017 ceremony while on the right, you can see what kind of sight is now welcoming visitors there.
Know it’s been well covered on twitter but I went to have a look for myself
— mikey (@mikeymifsud) January 28, 2021
February 2017 and January 2021 pic.twitter.com/mPiEueydfM
The sculpture itself is not in the best condition, its pedestal is also damaged, and the plaque describing Ferenc Puskás‘s career and work in Australia, which was still there at the time of the unveiling, is missing, too. The best-known Hungarian footballer was a coach in the city between 1989 and 1991, before returning home, and he won an Australian championship and cup with South Melbourne FC.
The inauguration of the statue of the football legend was reported by híradó.hu four years ago. According to the report, Zsolt Németh, the then-chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said that “From now on, Puskás will be the symbol of Hungarians in Melbourne,” while Attila Gruber, the ambassador at the time, spoke of the fact that “the statue is another memorial for the Australian Hungarians.
It becomes real for the Hungarians living in Australia and for the visitors that, once upon a time, there lived a world-famous Hungarian footballer, the best at the time, the best in the world, who is remembered even on the other side of the world.”
The erection of the statue was initiated by Hungarian businessman Róbert Bélteky, who is the owner of the Budafok club, which is currently at the top of the Hungarian National Championship.
Telex.hu contacted the Hungarian consulate in Melbourne, asking them if they knew about the conditions of the statue and whether they planned to take action. No response has been received so far. Government Commissioner Balázs Fürjes wrote on Twitter that he would talk to the Hungarian ambassador about the matter.
This is appalling.
Idolized by millions of Hungarians rightfully for the genius gifted ability that he displayed throughout his illustrious Hungarian, European and International football career and to see photos of his statue in this neglected condition shames and disgusts me.
I was born in the State of Victoria, in the Capital City of Melbourne.
I live as a Permanent Resident of Hungary and understand the the position in Hungary that Ferenc Puskas is seen and represents to Hungarians.
Puskas will always be – rightfully be – an absolute Hungarian national Hero, that still to this day, those who fully understand football, judge him as one of the best ever in the world to have played football.
Puskas is a Hungarian icon.
I have emailed the State Minister for Sport in the State of Victoria – Martin Pakula – email : martin.pakula@parliament .vic.gov.au – vetting my spleen, that the statue of Ferenc Puskas is in the condition that it obviously is.
Pusksa did spend time in Melbourne as coach of a major Victorian Football Team.
Please email Martin Puskas – and lets get this statue fixed and that it again represents the Hungarian Hero – what he did for football in Hungary – the joys and delight he gave millions as a hero of Hungary and see it as it should be – Hungary’s Football Hero – Ferenc Puskas.
Victoria/Australia have shamed and embarrassed me and to my fellow Hungarian citizens – I do apologize.
The statue was renovated and it is nicer than it ever was