The ‘Black Pearl’ abodes heaven

By- Diptayan Hazra

The football world mourns as the football King of Samba style breathed his last on December 30, 2022, following a prolonged battle with Cancer. He died at 82. The world of football came together to pay tribute to the Brazilian icon.

In two years, both the legends of football from two Latin American countries departed. When Diego Maradona passed away, Pele said, “What sad news. I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend. There is still much to be said, but for now, may God give strength to the family. One day, I hope we can play ball together in heaven.” It’s happening now.

Reactions poured in from around the world. “A simple goodbye to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that hits the entire world of football. at this moment. An inspiration for so many millions, a reference of yesterday, today, and always. The affection he has always shown for me was reciprocal in every moment we shared, even at a distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will last forever in every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace, King Pele.”- Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pele was born on 23 October 1940 in a small-town, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in a poverty-stricken family. His family had named him Edson Arantes do Nascimento. His father was very respectful to the great scientist Edison. Later Edison was turned to Edson. In his childhood, he was called Dico. And he was named Pele.

During his childhood, Pele’s father Joao Ramos do Nascimento alias Dondinho was a manual worker as well as a footballer. As they were very poor, Pele did not get a football in his childhood, his father got him admitted to a small club in Sao Paulo. It was the junior team Bauru Athletic Club of which Brazil’s national footballer Brito was coach. He took Pele to Santos Club where from 1956 to 1974 Pele played for the club. From that year Pele did not have to look back.

Comparison between Pele-Maradona-Messi-Ronaldo is not possible as Pele himself said,” Comparison between footballers of different generations and different positions is not practicable.” He was critical of Maradona but it was possibly because of the competitive nature of the two countries. Still, he admired Maradona as a footballer. He said, “Look behind the last ten years, I think Messi is the Best, Ronaldo plays forward and tries to score goals but Messi leads from the midfield, if it could be possible I would have loved to see both of them playing in my team. If one sees Maradona as a complete footballer, he will be ahead of all of them, I think Neymar may be best in the future era but not of all footballers.”

The whole night of the demise of Pele was a shock to almost all Calcuttans. There is a rivalry between Brazil and Argentina supporters of Calcutta, but the demise of Pele brought complete sadness to all of them. The first pages of all the newspapers published from Calcutta covered most of the spaces, not only as lead news but as possibly the only news. The Calcutta-based TV channels possibly did not have any other news to cover but Pele.