Unless you were living under a rock somewhere, you may have heard the stage name Pelé. But Edson Arantes Donacimiento, was his real name.
As a child, the young Pelé was fascinated with the soccer game. But, in Brazil and other places around the planet, sports were the elitest thing. It costs money to buy a leather-bound soccer ball, cleats were exorbitant, and price for shorts and jerseys were sky high. It took major funding just to put an organized neighborhood team together. Internationally, there were few black players on team rosters...
Being poor, meant Pelé started practicing soccer with balls made of socks, barefoot, and wearing his Sunday's best short pants, on a pitch made of dirt, using the pavement or sidewalk. It might still be the case in some areas of Brazil today where the poor lives and plays soccer for generations...
Pelé's passing had been the saddest thing to Brazil's die-hard fans all over the world. And if you are Haitian, chances are you rooted for Brazil, vicariously. Well, not all Haitians, a few always liked Argentina. That's what led to this unusual tribute to an opponent's star player, and winner of four World Cups today.
After Pelé was retired from playing for Brazil, he was declared a national treasure from his country. But Pelé managed to make more money imaginable through endorsements. Pepsi Cola was one of his first business deals. A picture of Pelé could be seen executing his trademark bicycle kick on the Pepsi Cola logo...
At first, the bottling company opened a plant in Haiti, and Pelé followed as a pitch man. Giving away free stuffs while opening bottle tops to discover a prize...
In 1975, while Pelé played for the New York Cosmos, and Pepsi Cola organized a three-team tournament at the Sylvio Cator stadium in Port-au-Prince. The two Haitian teams selected were Violette Athletic Club and Victory.
Something special happened at the final between Violette Athletic Club and the New York Cosmos.
Take a look.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire