http://www.fulham-fc.co.uk/news/displaynews.asp?id=2663
Fri 18th Oct 2002
Fulham striker promises to surprise fans when he scores...
Fulham's Facundo Sava is the striker with a surprise down his socks - and it is
not always the power and ability in his feet. The cheery Argentinian, who has
a reputation for being good with his head, likes to keep goal celebration masks
next to his shinpads.
Presumably, having his party trick up his sleeve is just not practical.
The 28-year-old, who is a qualified social psychologist, gave English football
its first taste of his eccentricity when he scored the winner against Charlton
and put on a Zorro mask two weeks ago, so Fulham fans have an idea of what to
expect in future.
But as he prepares to play against Manchester United at Loftus Road tomorrow he
is not about to get predictable.
He said: "If I score against them my celebration will be a surprise. I never
say which mask I am going to wear. I do not even tell my teammates. I am the
only one who will know what I am going to do.
"A goal is everything in football. It means joy and happiness and I like to
celebrate in a proper way. Carrying a mask under the socks boosts my confidence
. It gives me the certainty I'll score. "
Sava's bizarre celebrations were inspired by a team-mate at Argentinian side
Gimnasia La Plata, where he played before his ? million move to Fulham in May.
He first wore a mask in a local derby after scoring the winner. It earned him
cult status and encouraged him to become more adventurous in his choice of
headgear.
Some items - including a wolf mask which covered his entire head and the
killer's mask from the Scream films - were too big to tuck into his socks so a
friend was stationed on the touchline to provide the prop when required.
For a bit of variety Sava also once borrowed one of his daughter's glove
puppets and was then inundated with gifts of headgear from fans. Before leaving
for London he had built up a collection of about 250 celebration props.
But he left them all in Argentina and, when he scored his first Premiership
goal at Middlesbrough in a 2-2 draw in August, his celebration was strictly
orthodox.
"I didn't have a mask in my sock because I left them in Argentina," he said.
"My wife, Cynthia, bought the Zorro one for me in Camden but it's the goals
that are important."
Since then Sava has been sent two more by fans: another Zorro one in Fulham's
black and white colours and a monster mask which would make him look something
like the Incredible Hulk.
He was also sent a teddy bear with the prospect of more weird and wonderful
gifts to come.
Whether Sava will continue to get away with wearing the headgear is unclear.
The Football Association saw no problem with his celebration against Charlton
but may feel they have to write a killjoy letter to him if it gets out of hand.
The important thing for them is that what he does to mark a goal is not
offensive. Sava said: "If there is a problem I will not wear them but in
Argentina the crowd and team liked it. People hoped I would score just so I
would wear a mask." Sava is now keen to settle in London and is trying to fit
in as well as making his mark with the masks.
Countryman Juan Sebastian Veron and Uruguay's Diego Forlan, both of whom he
played against in Argentina, were not immediate hits at Manchester United when
they joined last season and Sava wants to make the most of his opportunity.
He has already learned to get by in English and said: "This situation is good
for me. The economy in Argentina is very bad. Players were paid but because of
the problems they sometimes had to wait two or three months.
"It is very hard for everyone. My father works 12 hours a day as a therapist in
a psychiatric hospital just to eat, nothing more. I can help my family with
money."
At Fulham, his contribution is likely to be making sure people do not keep a
straight face - as long as he scores that is.
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這是我聽過最特別的慶祝方式..
真是耍寶..
可惜沒進球..
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