Editor December 30, 2022
Group Managing Director of Sahara Group and board Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Dr Kola Adesina has joined world leaders in expressing grief over the death of Brazilian soccer legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (a.k.a Pele).
Adesina, a football enthusiast made the remarks on his Facebook post Friday afternoon, he said Pele’s football career impacted so many people across the globe positively including him (Adesina).
The legend died Thursday evening (December 29, 2022) in a Sao Paolo hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 82 years.
Adesina on his Facebook timeline seen by veracitydesk.com wrote:
“To my first football icon, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as PELÉ.
“Your football career impacted so many people across the globe positively including mine. I came across a video clip recently where all the tricks and tactics being displayed by modern-day footballers have been done by you ages ago.
“With three World Cup titles and several other accolades, you are truly the GOAT. Your death, even though painful, showed that the best dribblers can’t dribble death.
“Thank you for making football “The Beautiful Game”.
“Rest on, O Rei Pele.”
Record however shows that Pele was born in Tres Coracoes, in the state of Minas Gerais, in 1940, Pele grew up in poverty. His parents could not even afford a football. An old sock filled with newspapers was the first “ball” his magical feet kicked but it was enough for him to fall in love with the game and for people to start noticing he was different.
His unmatched skill ensured that he scored two goals in the 1958 World Cup final to lead Brazil to victory over Sweden. He was just 17.
Pele, who is credited with coining the phrase “the beautiful game” to refer to football, remained the only player to win the world cup thrice. He won the coveted trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and scored 12 world cup goals. At the age of 17, Pele scored twice in the World Cup final in 1958 as Brazil defeated the host Sweden 5-2.
