The world has truly been blessed by colossal figures who have graced the face of this beautiful
planet we call earth,
As one advert by Econet Wireless a telecommunications giant in Zimbabwe went on, “it took a poor boy out of the dusty streets of Brazil, to make the world one through football ,he is none other than Pele.
Born Edison Arantes do Nascimento on October 23 1940, Pele as the world of football knows him is
the greatest football player that ever kicked the football.
As one Brazilian fan put it at the just ended Qatar FIFA 2022 world cup, “Pele is our roots” and
without the roots there would not be life.For football heaven so loved the world that it gave
Pele a god in flesh that he dazzles, and whosoever watches will have eternal entertainment and joy.
Pele achieved more with the ball in his feet than just dazzling on the field and winning games, he
literally changed the world, united peoples of different races, cultures.The great Brazilian who made the jersey number 10 “divine” across the football world has called time on his mission to spread the gospel of football.
Rivaldo who starred in Brazil’s triumph at the first world cup of the new century in 2002 Korea-Japan, said the number 10 was consecrated by Pele.
The 82-year-old who had been battling cancer for some time, and at the just ended world cup there
had been hope that he was on the recovery path but alas master football heaven had other plans has
died.
During the just ended world cup there had been reports that the 3-time world cup winner had been
adversely responding to treatment.
As the rest of the world is preparing to kiss the year 2022 goodbye, we also say adios to a god in flesh,
who divinely dazzled on the football field.
A dark cloud has surely been cast on the world of football and the year itself has been unforgiving as
another icon in Diego Maradona also passed away earlier in 2020.
Pele first came to football prominence at the 1958 FIFA world cup in Sweden and at age 17 he was a
protagonist as the Selecao won their first of 5 world cup triumphs.
His illustrious contribution to football was immense as he set the benchmark and records that
took years to match, and others that still stand today.
Pele went on to star for Brazil at the 1962 world cup leading the Samba boys to another triumph.
1966 the English led by Sir Bobby Charlton dethroned Brazil as the Kings, but like a phoenix
the mythical bird Pele and Brazil rose from the ashes and conquered the world in 1970.
They beat the Italians 4-1 in the 1970 final in Mexico City as Brazil won the Jules Rimet trophy
for a third time and were allowed to keep the trophy.
The 1970 world cup winning side is considered to be the greatest to ever win the world cup, that
included other super stars like Tostao amongst others.
Becoming the youngest player to win the world cup at age 17 Pele was a great ambassador of the
“Jinga” the Brazilian philosophy of football with skill and flair.
Before Pele Brazil was just another nation on the globe but after his epic exploits on the football
field, Brazil became the football capital of the world and the sport a culture and tradition.
Pele is eternal and what he achieved with the ball in his feet can and will never be matched.
As President-elect of Brazil Luiz Inancio Lula da Silva said he had the privilege that most fellow
countrymen in Brazil didn’t have, the young ones especially.
He had the blessing to watch the god of football work miracles on the football field.
In his words “I saw Pele play, live at Pacaembu and Morumbi. Play no, I saw Pele give a show, because
when he got the ball, he always did something special, which often ended up in a goal.
Even former President Dilma Rousseff gave tribute saying “No one has been a King so loved”
The tributes alone prove his divine status, as the tributes are more like testimonies of the good the
god of football Pele did and brought to each and every individual across the world with his football
miracles.
Amongst the luminaries in Latin America Pele deservedly holds his place amongst the Fidel
Castros, Ernesto Che Guevarra, Simon Bolivar amongst many others.
Heads of state taking time to give their testimonies of the good the man did former footballers alike
proves his divine status.
Football heaven made Pele and behold he dazzled and entertained, and as the greatest assumes his
throne in football heaven, we say gracias,
