Biography

[b]BIRTH AND FAMILY[/b][br /]
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Pele, the soccer legend kicked his feet in the air for the first time on October 23, 1940, in a small village Tres Coracoes, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The baby born to Joao Ramos do Nascimento and Celeste was soon to follow in the footsteps of his father, a professional soccer player - christened as Edson Arantes do Nascimento. The child was baptized in the municipal church called Igreja de Sagrada Familia de Jesus, Maria e Jose.[br /]
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His father, Joao Ramos do Nascimento, or Dondinho, as he was known in the soccer world, was well-known as one of the best-heading players in his time. He was a center forward for Fluminense until an injury kept him from playing professional division one soccer. The family income was in jeopardy as his father had to retire prematurely due to an injury and had to take to scrubbing floors. The major knee accident occurred during a slide tackle, a skill his father passed on to his son.[br /]
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His mother Celeste, took care of Edson and the rest in the family with love and affection. Edson’s love for playing football was very evident from day one, but his mother was not very keen. She was aware that a flick of fate could change the course of the graph. One ruptured kneecap and she saw her husband’s income come plummeting downwards. She wanted something better for her son. Had she got her way, football would have been denied one of its greatest talents. Edson, nicknamed as Dico then, shined shoes to supplement the family income. [br /]
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[b]EDSON AND FUTEBOL[/b][br /]
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Fate had it the other way round. The family then moved to Bauru, in the interior of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, where he learned to master the art of futebol. Edson starting playing ‘futebol’ in the open space behind his house at a very young age. We all know that this game calls for minimum gear, a pair of shoes and a football. Edson’s ‘futebol’ was then a round bundle of rags that were held together by strings. In those days, rubber ball was a luxury so Coca-Cola cans served the purpose of goal posts, and sidewalks for sidelines. During these amateur sessions, his father gave valuable tips, and he was living up to his dreams.[br /]
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Soon, the familiar open plot near their home as the backdrop, took the shape of an open ground. Edson mastered his art of soccer. He was blessed with speed, poise, great balance, vision, the uncanny ability to control the ball superbly, and to sharp shoot powerfully and precisely with either foot and his head.[br /]
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[b]COLORS AT SANTOS[/b][br /]
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Edson's soccer career started early. After playing a few amateur teams like Baquinho and Sete Setembro. At the age of 11, while playing for an uncoached team called Ameriquinha, he was discovered by a former Brazilian World Cup player named Waldemar de Brito. This unique talent caught the eye of Brito, who took upon himself to train this amateur player and polish the game in him. With the experience of playing for a local minor league club for 4 years, in which he emerged as the club most renowned team member, coupled with De Brito’s influence, Edson joined the Santos Football Club. He started off at the lowest rung as a junior teammate and quickly graduated to reserves bench, finally to end up on the team’s starting lineup as inside left.[br /]
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This way up the ladder was not without hic-up. Once, when he was playing with some Turkish children he tried to stop the ball with his hand instead of foot. This glaring mistake earned him the name Pe-Le. ‘Pe’ means ‘foot’ and ‘Le’ means ‘fool’. These words of Portuguese and Turkish origin re-christened the Brazilian hero. He repeated this gesture only once, again in his lifetime. It was during the last game of his career, an exhibition match. Pele deliberately picked up the ball in his hands. This gesture left the cheering crowds dumbfounded, but soon they realized that this was the (Perola Negra) Black Pearl’s unique way of offering tribute to the object that had led him to fame and prosperity.[br /]
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[b]WORLD CUP SELECTION[/b][br /]
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Other than the two occasions mentioned previously, it was always either Pele’s foot or head, and the ‘goal’ that remained his target. The Brazilian played adventurous football, always attacking and constantly weaving moves to score. Very soon, this 17-year-old, who had quit studies at the age of 9, to pursue football single-heartedly, made it big. This sensational player was selected on the Brazilian National Team for the 1958 World Cup finals.[br /]
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He reached this summit by displaying great promise. Pele’s first appearance of 1956 saw him play in place of the center forward Del Vecchio. He charged into the game to score the sixth of the seven goals scored in the 7-1 Santos victory. He scored his goal at the 36th minute, in a play between Tite and Raimundinho. The ball was passed to Pele in the box. Even though he was surrounded by defenders, he shot the goal as the ball went under goalkeeper Zaluar’s body. Zaluar became famous as the first goalie to take a goal from the great Pele.[br /]
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[b]'KING' PELE[/b][br /]
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His international career kicked off with this upstart takeoff. Pele scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals to help his team beat France 5-2. His dazzling speed and rocketing shots astounded fans. This average sized man had to just walk onto the grass and the crowd would explode into wild batucadas and resonating chants. The nickname ‘King’ soon trailed him as he accelerated to shoot goals with impeccable accuracy. The supporters feasted on his abilities as they deliriously chanted 'Brazil cha cha cha, Brazil cha cha cha.' This rhythmic chanting haunted the rivals as they lost to the national hero. Many a player had to resign to the fact of having being beaten by a rival 'legend' and happily settle for the second slot.[br /]
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Pele' fame rose steadily as he kept posting his victories against most of the international teams. The most awaited match, the World Cup of Chile 1962, lost its excitement among spectators as Pele pulled a muscle after 10 minutes into the game against Czechoslovakia. The Cup, which was supposed to be his, ended up as Mane Garrincha’s Cup. The only satisfaction he had to his credit was that he could contribute a goal in the preliminary qualifying rounds against Mexico, that ensured Brazil to finally lift the World Cup.[br /]
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His success was so contagious that it did not take long to spread the gospel of soccer to a nation that did not care much about it. He swayed the doubters and charmed the corporations and even reconverted the immigrants who had discarded the sport as an old world relic. His personality and fan following made him the highest paid sports figure in the world and a multimillionaire. Even at the height of success, he had his feet firmly planted on the ground.[br /]
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[b]PELE'S CHARISMA[/b][br /]
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Pele is a fine, generous and a warm person, by nature. As a player, he signed autographs until his arms ached as much as his legs. He would talk to strangers, as if they were friends. Often, he traveled around the world to hold soccer clinics for young people. Countless children have inculcated the art of soccer from the great and humble Pele. He believed in teaching soccer himself, as he didn’t see soccer as a game in isolation, but also as a culture that transformed mere children into ‘true men’.[br /]
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His role in soccer made people realize its importance over other games. The spectators who enjoyed varied sports soon became aware that soccer was altogether a different ball game. Every player has to possess similar skills, as the distinction between offensive and defensive players have been dissolved. These players perform consistently on the ground without a break, so the onlooker totally indulges himself without any scope for distraction. Hence, soccer cannot thrill its audience by the sheer technical finesse in repetition. Instead, it requires strategic improvisation in moves, thoughts and actions to ever the changing necessities.[br /]
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Despite all these attributes and difficulties, Pele has been able to make people conscious that though soccer is easy to play as a pickup game that can be developed to perfection. His contribution has made soccer, a game for the masses, which can identify with its passions, its sudden triumphs and its inevitable disillusionment.[br /]
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[b]WORLD CUP 1966 [/b][br /]
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This craze had reached such a heady peak in 1966, that players were ready to do anything to win it. Violent tactics crept into the game. Portuguese butchers literally kicked Pele off the park. He was able to perform only in the first game against Bulgaria. Brazil lost the remainder matches as their top players were inflicted with injuries. Morais who cynically chopped Pele in brutal fashion was amazingly allowed to stay on the pitch by English referee George McCabe. Disillusioned by the malpractices, Pele vowed never to appear in another World Cup.[br /]
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[b]FOOTBALL FEVER[/b][br /]
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Pele's game was so powerful that many a meeting was rescheduled to watch this ‘juggler’ perform on the ground. The matches of the national football teams imposed television schedules on the rhythm of life. The city would literally come to a standstill whenever a match featuring him was on. Such intense was the feeling that this sport evoked the passion for soccer from the young and the old, throughout the world. Once during a dinner for leading members of the British establishment and distinguished guests at the Staid Spencer House in London, a soccer match between England and Argentina was on. These matches were always blood feuds compounded by the fact that the Falklands crisis was still fresh in the minds of the people. The impeccable guests could not resist the idea of having to miss the nail biting finish of the match. They had television sets placed at vantage locations during the dinner. The match went into extra time and required a penalty shoot-out afterward, so much so that the guest of honor delivered his message around 11 pm only. Since England lost, the audience had nothing but to mourn the loss off the field.[br /]
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When France finally emerged triumphant in the finals, Paris was paralyzed with joy for 48 hours while Brazil slumbered in dejection. Such was the aura that Pele had, that he could easily enter people’s house through the televisions and bring their life to a standstill. [br /]
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Pele started touring extensively playing exhibition games. The most talked about match was the goodwill game in the capital of Lagos in 1967. The Nigerian Civil War came to a standstill for 2 days, so that everyone could enjoy Pele flaunt his skills at the ground. The infectious joy of the game and the undying love that Pele had for soccer made him rescind over the earlier his decision, and was once again seen playing for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup held in Mexico.[br /]
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The Brazilians played a brilliant game and scored an emphatic 4-1 victory against Italy. Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto scored a goal each. But Pele carried home the credit of the three best ‘almost goals’ in history. He also gave English goalkeeper Banks the opportunity to share his limelight. Banks stopped one of Pele’s headers and earned the fame for the best save in the history of the World Cup. Pele perfected his goal shots with such intensity and fervent practice, that he was called Gasoline for his energy, the Executioner for his finishing and the [b]Black Pearl[/b] for his preciousness.[br /]
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[b]THE DEMI-GOD BORN[/b][br /]
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He was lithe, agile, and strong and seemed to be able to play the ball as he pleased. Blessed with a stunning shot and an ability to soar above defenses, he was expected to perform some astonishing feat of 'socery' read sorcery, every time he was in its possession. He was seen as a magician rather than a player, and the rising numbers of registrations endorsed this fact. With Pele demonstrating the wondrous possibilities of soccer, the number of players in the world of soccer multiplied in hoards. The importance and the spirit of teamwork was inculcated as they appreciated the efforts of Pele. Soon he was recognized as a phenomenon dependent on his team, even while transcending his teammates with individual brilliance. To achieve mythical status as soccer star is especially difficult because the peak performance is generally quite short. Only a handful can display outstanding feats at the top international levels over five years at a stretch. Incredibly, Pele gave the cream of his performance of his 18 long years at the game, scoring 52 goals in his 17th year. Contemporary soccer superstars never reach even 50 goals a season. For Pele, who had thrice, scored more than 100 goals a year, it was time to seek retirement.[br /]
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Performance at a high level in any sport is to exceed the ordinary human scale. But Pele’s performance eclipsed that of the ordinary star by as much as the star exceeds ordinary performance. He scored at a unique average of a goal at every international game he played at every World Series game over 15 years. Between 1956 and 1974, Pele scored a total of 1,220 goals over a span of a decade and a half. He achieved this feat not merely by sheer hard work, but through a fine amalgam of skill, style and wizardy. He was supported by a select group of talented men who comprised the team. Just as a collection of notes do not make a Beethoven symphony, statistics cannot capture the majesty of the then glorious Brazilian sides. This was football played to the samba beat. All those great players in the yellow and green shirts possessed magnificent skills, astonishing speed and an amazing ball control. But, Pele was the greatest of them all. Every time he walked onto the field, crowds of adoring fans would greet him with a hero’s welcome. Pele is the only man to have played on three World Cup winning teams, scored nearly a goal a game throughout his career and reigned as the sportsman of the century, as chosen by an international panel of reputed sports journalists.[br /]
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[b]RETIREMENT[/b][br /]
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Pele was not man of only single talent. He was armed with many hidden talents, which surfaced in his best selling autobiography : My Life and the Beautiful Game. He featured in numerous documentaries and composed many a musical score. The most popular score is the soundtrack for the tropic ‘Pele’. This great man took leave of the Santos football team in 1974 and started living a passive life.[br /]
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But the Black Pearl was destined for other things. The mythic status that Pele derived from the way he incarnated the character of Brazil’s team affirmed that virtue without joy, is a contradiction in terms. His excellent form and fitness were contagious. His team members were the most acrobatic if not always the most proficient. The Brazilian teams played with a infectious exuberance. When the yellow shirts went on the attack, their fans cheered to the intoxicating beat of samba bands. Soccer became a ritual of fluidity and grace. In Pele’s day, the Brazilians epitomized soccer as fantasy.[br /]
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Pele could play through a professional team as if they were a bunch of practice players. And he did so not disdainfully but with a free-flowing joy that caused even the teams over which he triumphed to share his pleasure, for it was no disgrace to be defeated by a phenomenon defying emulation.[br /]
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[b]PROMOTING FOOTBALL[/b][br /]
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All these typical qualities in the legend, made the top brains of the North American Soccer League, invite Pele to the soccer world after one year of his retirement from the Brazilian team. The germ of this idea had been sown in 1971. A team of Mr Clive Toye, general manager of a new team in New York called Cosmos, Phill Woosman who later became a member of the NASL and Kurt Lam general secretary of the US Soccer Federation, accompanied by Professor Mazzei, met Pele. On hearing their brainwave, Pele vetoed it as absurd and crazy. But the persistent Americans managed to wean Pele out of his hibernation in 1975. Pele was offered a tempting sum of $17,000,000 to sign a three-year contract with the New York Cosmos to promote the game in the United States.[br /]
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When Pele took center stage, thousands of people who had barely heard of soccer came to see the great Brazilian play. Soon, schools and playgrounds in every state were offering soccer in their athletic programs. The rest is history. Today, soccer is the most popular organized youth sport of America. Pele truly touched the world using soccer as his medium.[br /]
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For the three seasons to follow, Pele played soccer with great indulgence. He was aware that his game and style had become the thumb-rule for the amateurs who had taken to soccer as a newfound passion. Pele was no longer as fast, but he was as exuberant as ever before. Pele had become an institution for them. With Pele portraying the bright future prospects in soccer, the number of registrations in the US Federation nearly quadrupled in that time period. It shot up from 100,000 to 400,000. It is said that heroes walk alone, but this hero had a huge fan following that followed him in growing numbers. He ennobled the lives and touched the hearts of one and all. For those who love soccer, Pele is their God.[br /]
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His popularity made Pele travel far and wide to promote the game. As he became more famous receiving more cruzerios (money), he toured the world flaunting his talents and becoming well known. At times, he did not even know where he was going, he carried a gym bag literally every where he went. People logically thought that it was his soccer equipment. They were wrong because what he really carried in his gym bag was one single thing – money, which he called cruzerios. His cruzerio bag is what came to his rescue at those difficult times.[br /]
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His contract finally ended in 1977, when he played an exhibition match between Santos and Cosmos. Pele played one half for each side and Cosmos won the match for the day. This was the last time Pele shot a goal for his team.[br /]
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[b]A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR[/b][br /]
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From hereon, Pele led a peaceful life after his retirement. He had done his job and could rest crossing his feet. But, the active Pele had not had his fill. In December 1994, Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso appointed him as the special secretariat for sports in the cabinet. Since then, Pele served as a virtual goodwill ambassador to the world. He did extensive commentary in the 1994 World Cup. As the Brazilian Minister of Sports, he successfully passed the ‘Pele’s law’. This legislation extensively reformed the anachronistic structure of the Brazilian league system. He wrenched away the undue influence and power away from the club owners who had been holding back success for the domestic leagues.[br /]
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[b]WEEDING CORRUPTION[/b][br /]
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Pele studied the disadvantages of the system and brought about fundamental changes in the structure. The Lords of the game brought promising teenagers to New York from remote areas with the consent of their parents. After extensive training and a rigorous lifestyle the youngsters were put to test. If they didn’t perform up to the mark, they were left in a lurch without any future. Because of this malpractice, many a youngster who had taken to playing soccer without aptitude or without realizing his potentials, had his future jinxed. Soccer trainers had earned notoriety when Pele put his foot down stating that the amateurs be kept in clubs till they polished their skills. The cream from the clubs could then be skimmed to play International Soccer. His reforms weeded out the corruption and the abscessed decision-making by the top rung of selectors. Soccer soon became a healthy game, which has a sound system to look back even today.
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As recent as December 2001, Pele was quoted in one news article condemning 'modern money-go-round, saying, "The guy scores a goal and kisses the club badge on the shirt. Then another team comes along -- it could be in the same championship -- and offers a bit more money. The guy moves to the new club, which pays more, and kisses their badge as well. What love is this?" He also added: "Love for your club is playing for Santos for 15 years. I had offers to play for AC Milan, offers to play in Europe, offers to play everywhere. I was happy at Santos so I stayed. But concepts are changing."[br /]
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Abhorring soccer violence among fans in his country in the present times, Pele rued over the fact saying, "This didn't happen in my day. When I played, each club had a player who was identified with them, a reference point." He even turned hard on the players when they would display provocative goal celebration as, according to him, 'was bringing ill-fortune to themselves.' Coaches were also not spared when he stated, "The coach has so much power over the players that when a player scores, instead of congratulating the guy who made the goal for him, he runs over to the touchline and embraces the coach. This drives me mad."[br /]
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We also bring in the recent news article on Pele which screamed on its headlines; "PELE RUES BLEMISH ON HIS IMAGE". In it, was quoted that a Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo had reported accusing his (Pele's) Pele Sports and Marketing company of keeping money intended for United Nations Children's Fund collected through a benefit match that was never held in 1995.[br /]
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Pele's battery of Lawyers have collected documents to prove the allegations wrong, but in the process, the media had caused damage to the great man's reputation. "I began playing at the age of 16 back in 1958. Brazilians have known me for over 40 years. Then one journalist comes out with this." said Pele, who has split with his former partner Helio Viana in his bid to make a fresh start. It is said the Viana was the one who played the key role behind Pele's back.[br /]
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"What makes me even sadder is that it is a Brazilian who has done this. I don't know why. If he has proof, fine. When I went to the World Cup draw (in South Korea on December 1), people were asking me about it. Sponsors and journalists were questioning me." One of Pele's lawyers added: "I would say it has damaged his image by 30 per cent."[br /]
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Another murky issue concerning Pele was about 'one hug and one newspaper story were all it took to damage a reputation which Pele had taken more than 40 years to build up.' The world's most admired personality and Athlete of the Century, for nearly 25 years after his retirement, is sparing no effort to restore his image. [br /]
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"I know this will go away in the end...but a lot of people have doubted me," Pele told Reuters in an interview. It was the second time this year that Pele has been questioned.[br /]
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It began with Pele hugging Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira and their agreement to join hands to pull Brazilian soccer out of its deep-rooted crisis. Until the hug, Pele, who was minister for sports for four years under President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, had been a bitter critic of Teixeira, even refusing to back Brazil's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
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Teixeira's administration has been among the targets of two Congressional investigations into alleged mismanagement and corruption in Brazilian football. The second probe pinned Teixeira of negligent administration and misuse of funds.[br /]
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"The Athlete of the Century has disappointed many people," said Jose Trajano, a columnist in the sports daily Lance, at the time. "He has chosen which team he is going to play for and it isn't mine."[br /]
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Pele said that he was surprised at the size of the reaction to the hug which, he said, had been blown out of proportion.[br /]
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"Some journalists behaved like women in love," he said. Pele clarified that he simply meant to involve him (Teixeira) to serve in the best interests of the game. He also stated that the incident was blown out of proportion, yet at the same time agreeing that he should step down following the Congressional inquiry's final report.[br /]
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"I've been saying this for the last five years," he added, calling for a clean-up in the crisis-hit Brazilian game.[br /]
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All said and done Pele remains what he was and is, a great sportsman to the core, a fact all will agree too.[br /]
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[b]AWARDS GALORE[/b][br /]
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For all his efforts he was awarded with the International Peace Award. Even though he achieved fame and fortune, he did not lose his innate sense of sportsmanship and the respect of teammates and opponents alike. He was a welcome member of the Roy of the Rovers Hall of Fame. Roy of the Rovers has been described as the greatest player who never existed. Pele surely won the accolade of the greatest player who did exist. He was the ultimate footballer.[br /]
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This player born in Ties Coeacoes, which means three hearts, says he does have three hearts, one for his birthplace, the other for Bamu and the third for Santos his second love.[br /]
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His first love, his wife Roseneri Cholbi expired early leaving behind three children, the proof of their love. The family had now embraced Assiria, his second wife who is 21 years his junior. The Pele of today is a happy man running an estimated $30 million business empire that deals in sports goods.[br /]
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Even today when Pele goes to his hometown, he sees a statue of him unveiled in 1971. The other place close to his heart that bears remembrance of his game is Lima, Peru. This is an inscription on the stadium wall, which says, "Here played Pele."[br /]
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With all these credits Pele uses his influence to collect funds for UNICEF. He has been pursuing children’s causes for decades. His 1000th goal was dedicated for children and old people who need our love and support. "Love, Love, Love" is his motto in life.[br /]
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All his life he has been in love with soccer. He always made decisions in favor of soccer. Be it ministership for soccer or resigning from it. He stepped down from his post as minister to do commentary at the World Cup. He resigned from the government to join the Globo TV network team covering championship in France. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso was so disillusioned by the resignation that he planned to scrap the post, which had specially been created for Pele. It is no wonder that the President is disappointed because Pele used his post, for the best of the game. He used his immense popularity to attract private sponsorship to amateur sports. Today’s players like Maradona do feel that he has got more than he deserves. At FIFA awards, Maradona Diego and Pele shared the award for the Best Player of the Century. To which Maradona said, "I am the winner by the people (votes) but Pele is the winner by the books." [br /]
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The youngsters give him less credit does not matter because they have not seen him play, but the truth still reigns supreme that Pele is an institution by himself. Soccer can never be heard of, without Pele. At one slum center in Rio de Janeiro, Pele kicked around a soccer ball with US President Bill Clinton during a Latin American visit. His main legacy will be in enacting a law that abolished the reserve clause in Brazilian soccer. This legislation essentially granted all players, not under contract, free agents within three years. This law was fought by club owners and cheered by players. Pele called it his ‘greatest goal’.[br /]
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The life of this philanthropist has been totally donated for the cause of soccer and both are incomplete without each other.[br /]
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[b]Bitter Sweet Relationships[/b]Pele’s vote to the best player of soccer invariably went to his father. From his childhood days, he was in awe of the bread winning career his father pursued. He started learning the tricks of the trade from his dad who was his first coach. Though the world says that Pele has surpassed his teacher by leaps and bounds, he still believes that he has not been able to achieve what his dad had. He remembers his dad scoring 5 goals in a game with his head, and holds that feat as his finishing line, which he has never reached.[br /]
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Pele changed hands of coaches at the age of 11, when Waldemar de Brito a famed Brazilian player took him under his wings. De Brito was amazed by the talent in this young boy and soon set about teaching him the rules of International Soccer. Pele is grateful to this man, for the exposure he experienced at a very young age. The efforts of these men and Pele’s style made him the youngest player on the International scene.[br /]
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Pele studded this achievement by becoming the youngest to score a hat trick at the World Cup.[br /]
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His perfection and agility made many a star player a die-hard fan of this soccer champ. His teammates were continuously learning from his performances. Quick pointers from Pele here and there, made a major difference in the game of the players. His rival’s felt that it was an honor to play against this legend. They were continuously learning from their mistakes and improving their game. But to their dismay Pele always found a loophole and shot the ball home past the goalie.[br /]
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The goalkeepers were the luckiest of all. Because the irony of the fact was that if they saved the goal they earned the fame of the best save and if the goalkeeper missed he still had the honor of having received the best goal. Among the soccer circles it was always said that to make as many goals as Pele was not difficult, but to make even one goal like Pele was indeed an impossible feat. Such was the power that he wielded on the football field.[br /]
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If he was showered with love and prestige, he was even challenged and asked to prove his place in the world of soccer by the one and only Argentinean Diego Maradona, who felt that Pele was a money hungry man who would stoop down at anything to reign the world of soccer.[br /]
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HRA awards had elected Maradona as the best player of the century based on Internet Polls. But they later on added Pele’s name as the winner by the books because it would be a shame to decide on the basis of a few youngsters who have no view of the entire soccer scenario through the years. Maradona was very upset by the issue and refused to share centerstage with Pele. But his own teammate admitted that soccer without Pele was incomplete. Keeping biases aside even the great Muhammad Ali, the great heavyweight champion also agreed that Pele was the greatest and he would share the limelight till someone else beat him to the finishing line. [br /]
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