’Allo! ‘Allo! is Rafa Baa-nitez the latest signing?

May 20 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Rafa Benitez with a superlambanana

TWO Liverpool icons came face-to-face yesterday – and found they had something unexpected in common.

Rafa Baa-nitez has been revealed as the latest signing of Go Superlambananas, and the real Liverpool manager was on hand to give his seal of approval to the lookalike.

With the glasses, red and white scarf and distinctive goatee, Baa-nitez is an instantly recognisable tribute to the Liverpool manager, who was happy to sign his name on the sculpture.

Go Superlambananas takes over the city for 10 weeks in June.

As part of the summer celebrations of Capital of Culture year, 100 small replicas of the much-loved Liverpool icon are being transformed into unique, exciting artworks displayed throughout the streets, parks, neighbourhoods and open spaces.

Dozens of Superlambanas are being decorated, painted and adorned before going on display throughout the city.

After the event, many Superlambananas will be sold at a charity auction with a significant percentage of the proceeds going to local charities. Baa-nitez has been sponsored by Finch – The Ideas Agency.

Joint-MD Tim Crutchley said: “We wanted to create a Superlambanana that captured a unique aspect of the city's culture.

“We ran a competition internally where everyone in the agency came up with some fantastic concepts and we all had a lot of fun along the way.

“The Baa-nitez concept really resonated as Liverpool is a city that is synonymous with sport and football is at its very heart.

“And with Rafa and his wife, Montse, being supporters of The Lily Centre Charity in Liverpool, he has very kindly given his time and the new Baa-nitez will be used to help raise awareness and funds for the centre.”

Montse Benitez is a patron of the Lily Centre, a support group for sufferers of breast cancer.

Benitez is said to have loved the idea and yesterday came face-to-face with his artistic counterpart.

“It's a great idea and a lot of fun, all in aid of a good cause,” he said.

The sculpture will be on public display as of June 16, alongside all the other Superlambananas, although Finch have yet to decide exactly where it will be situated.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk