THESt Albans soccer faithful are calling for a statue to honour Mark Viduka – the town’s favourite son.
And Kororoit MP Andre Haermeyer is asking people to back the idea so that the achievements of the Socceroos’ skipper can become an inspiration for local youth.
Mr Haermeyer said he would write to Brimbank City Council to arrange a discussion on the proposal.
He said Viduka was living proof that a person from the West could fulfil a dream.
“It doesn’t matter what field of endeavour, Mark Viduka has shown that with determination, a lot of hard work and belief in yourself, a young person from St Albans, or anywhere else in the West, can make the world take notice,” Mr Haermeyer said.
Asip Demiri, secretary of the St Albans Traders Association, suggested a statue of Viduka in St Albans Square would prove an eye-catching inspiration for want-to-be soccer players.
“To have this guy come from this area and be the captain of the national team is something we should be very proud of, and he deserves the recognition,” Mr Demiri suggested to Star last week.
A Brimbank Council spokesperson said the council had not been approached about the proposal and therefore would not make a comment.
A spokesperson for sports minister Justin Madden said Viduka had been an “excellent ambassador for soccer, and a fantastic captain of the team”.
“The local community should be extremely proud of him, and if they feel strongly about a statue they should approach the local council with a proposal,” the spokesperson said.
Ivan Pogacic, secretary of the Melbourne Knights Soccer Club, said Viduka – who began playing at the club in his teens – had made the Croatian community “extremely proud”.
“A lot of kids are looking up to Mark. When you go to a junior training session, they’re all there in shirts with Viduka on the back,” Mr Pogacic said.
He said many juniors had approached the club during the running of the World Cup to enrol to play.
Mr Pogacic said he felt pretty sure a statue raised in honour of Viduka would have a huge effect on the kids who play soccer in the area.
Soccer fan and Brimbank councillor Sam David said he “personally had ideas” to recognise Viduka’s achievements, but would have to approach the other councillors for an agreement.
