Ejikeme Ikwunze
Edson Arantes do Nascimento..
Pele of Brazil regarded as the best footballer ever to grace planet earth is 81years old. Pele was born on October 23, 1940 into the humble home of father Joao Ramos do Nascimento and mother Dona Celeste. His father was a great and an excellent professional footballer. Biologists say that man is a product of hereditary and environment.
True to the saying, Pele had the hereditary traits and environment to blossom as a footballer. His father had so much influence on Pele’s dream of becoming a great footballer and a great player, he became. At the age of eight, while as a pupil of Ernesto Monte Primary school Bauru, he was nicknamed PELE by his childhood friends.
He began his career in football at the age of 16 with the star-studded Santos FC in 1956 and played his first match for Santos on September 7 against Corinthians.Santos, won 7-1 and the young Pele scored one of the goals. On July 7, 1957 he made his debut appearance for Brazil in an international friendly match against Argentina and Brazil won 2-1 with Pele scoring one of the goals.
From September 7, 1956 when he played his first ever top class match coming on as a 20 minute substitute for Emmanuel del Vecchio through to 1st.October 1978 when 77,000 fans braved a torrential rainfall and flocked into the Giants stadium in New York to watch Pele play his last match.
Pele played a total of 1,365 matches and scored 1,282 goals. Pele played 14 World Cup matches in four World Cup Finals in 1958, 1962, 1966 &1970, scored 12 goals- 6 in Sweden in 1958. One in Chile in 1962, one in England in 1966 & 4 in Mexico in 1970.
The great Pele scored hat- tricks (3 goals in one match) in 93 matches. He scored goals each in four matches. He also scored five times each in six matches and 8 goals each. He scored theeight goals in one match in his 564th match on November 29. 1964 when Santos flattered, shattered and battered Botafogo 11-0 in Ribeirao Preto.
Pele also played as a goal keeper on four occasions. Pele played 91 matches for Brazil and scored 77 goals and clinched the top scorer spot. Pele made jersey N010 famous.
Pele met two Popes ..Pope John XX111 & Pope Paul 1V.He also met over 70 Presidents, many Senators and a good litany of great men.
Pele is also a United Nations and UNESCO Ambassador, FIFA Goal Merit recipient, former Minister of Sports in Brazil, a Commentator and indeed Football’s Ambassador Plenin- potentiary. He also holds honorary citizenships of many countries and Mayoral status of many cities across the globe.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento..Pele
What a splendid name, belonging to a great and splendid man….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY….MY MENTOR
WISHING PELE MANY MORE HALCYON YEARS AHEAD.
OBRIGADO….! GRACIAS.!!
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