THE late soccer wunderkind Dylan Tombides has been honoured with a statue outside Perth Oval in East Perth.
Tombides died in April last year, aged 20, after losing his battle with testicular cancer.
The striker was viewed as a rising star in the game and had joined London EPL club West Ham and been given caps for the Australia’s under- 17 and 23 teams. The sculpture was created by Robert Hitchcock and depicts Tombides holding his shinguard with “Happy Birthday Mum X” inscribed on it; a reference to his celebration after scoring in the under-17 world cup.
More than 100 people, including premier Colin Barnett and Mt Lawley MP Michael Sutherland, attended the unveiling Tuesday.
“The boy had a great talent and it was a real tragedy what happened,” Mr Sutherland says.
“It is of little consolation, but this statue will be a fitting reminder of his talent for years and generations to come.”
Tombides started his career playing for local club Stirling Lions.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
Perth Voice Interactive 
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