Pelé Set To Visit Nigeria

PELE

Football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pelé, will be in Nigeria for a two-day visit between August 11-12.

The visit will focus on youth empowerment and development as it will involve teenagers, their parents, football officials and the Nigeria Football Federation. It will be an opportunity for little kids to see the famous maestro live in flesh when he visits the country.

This will be the Brazilians second visit to Nigeria after his first visit in 1967 when the country was torn apart by the civil war. His presence allowed for a two-day cease-fire to enable both sides to watch an exhibition between his then side Santos and the Nigerian national team known as the Green Eagles..

Pele burst onto the football scene as a 17-year-old in 1958 helping Brazil to win the World Cup with some mesmerising displays going on to score 1,281 goals during his career.

His visit to Nigeria will see him conduct a sports clinic called ‘Legend Tournament’ and also a Gala Night where Pele will be hosted alongside some African football legends. Some of Pele’s memorabilia will be up for sale on the gala night with the proceeds going to a youth academy in the country.

Pele has received a lot of awards during his career. He was named ‘Athlete of the Century’ and ‘Player of the Century’ by FIFA and the International Olympic Committee among other numerous awards..

His visit to Nigeria is under the auspices of the Winihin Jemide Series (WJS) and Youth Experience Days which is one of the groups he works with to raise awareness against societal ills and raising funds for children causes. Pele is also a United Nations Ambassador with focus on environmental protection.

The 75 year old recently got married for the third time to his fiancee Marcia Cibele Aoki at a small religious ceremony in Guaruja on the coast of Sao Paulo.

Pele and his girlfriend of six years, were due to marry a couple of years ago but the ceremony had to be postponed after he suffered health problems.