Former Liverpool duo who are cousins have become professionals in hugely popular sport
Liverpool fans were left gobsmacked last week when a video went viral, showing former player Florent Sinama Pongolle pulling off an impressive shot in professional footgolf. And it seems he's not the only ex-Reds ace who is using his football skills in a completely different sport.
Sinama Pongolle scored nine goals in 65 appearances for Liverpool after being signed from France in 2003, along with his highly-rated cousin Anthony La Tallec, by then-Reds' manager Gerard Houllier.
Now aged 40, the striker bagged a Champions League medal in 2005 when Rafa Benitez masterminded a legendary comeback to beat AC Milan despite being 3-0 down at half-time.
Although he missed the final due to injury, he did score Liverpool's first goal in the memorable 3-1 victory over Olympiacos, in the group stage, that set the Reds on their path to Istanbul.
Sinama Pongolle went on to play for clubs including Atletico Madrid and Saint-Etienne, and even in Scotland, before a brief spell in Thailand towards the end of his career. He has also featured in charity games for the Reds.
The ex-French international, who earned one cap, hung up his boots in 2019 and quickly laced them up again as he ventured into the world of professional footgolf, reports The Express.
Last week, a clip surfaced on Sinama Pongolle's Instagram story showing him sinking an incredible shot from beyond the green at Golf De Saint Donat on the French Riviera.
Sinama Pongolle isn't the only former Liverpool star to have embraced the sport, as he revealed that Le Tallec has also taken up the game. "There are many [footballers] who come to try it," Sinama Pongolle said to L'Union.
"After me, there is Ludovic Obraniak, who has practiced a lot, and Camel Meriem, who is the one who has been practicing the most since he started.
"We also find Anthony Le Tallec who I got started. There were other ambassadors like Sylvain Wiltord, Jean-Pierre Papin or Youri Djorkaeff, who have already been part of the thing."
Sinama Pongolle and Le Tallec, who have been close mates since their youth days, have reunited once more at HAC Footgolf. The Le Havre club is where both players developed their talents in the celebrated academy that launched them towards professional football.
Despite spending that campaign out on loan, Le Tallec still earned a Champions League winner's medal from Liverpool's memorable victory in Istanbul.
The French striker departed Anfield in 2008 after a six-year spell and concluded his playing days with spells in Romania, Greece, and eventually back in France.
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