Pele in Kolkata After 38 Years, Receives Thunderous Welcome

“I asked him where he would place Messi in world football”.

After 38 years, Brazilian football legend Pele set foot again in the city on Sunday morning amidst cheering from vociferous fans. Unlike the overcast, rain-drenched day 38 years ago, it was a sunny Sunday morning when Emirates flight EK 0570, via Dubai, carrying Brazil’s “national treasure” touched down at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose worldwide airport at 8.07am. Clad in a black blazer and a grey T-shirt, Pele, before boarding the vehicle, stood near the auto door and waved to his fans, who chanted “Pele, Pele” and waved Brazilian flags.

Indian football icon Chuni Goswami was at the hotel to greet him with flowers. ‘Thank you Kolkata, Pele said with a broad grin as he kept on waving at the crowd standing on the floor of his auto and the fans reciprocated by chanting ‘Pele, Pele. A moderate crowd of fans reached to the airport to receive the former footballer, who is in Kolkata for next 3-days. “No doubt football today is more tough than before but when God gifts you to play football it’s the same in any generation”.

The triple World Cup victor, playing for American side New York Cosmos, featured in the exhibition match against local powerhouse Mohun Bagan in 1977. Later replying to query of journalists, Goswami said that Pele is not able to play football now as he’s not fit. Soon after checking in, Pele retired to his room for the day for a few well-deserved rest.

Pele will reunite with the Mohun Bagan’s class of 1977 who will be felicitated at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in the “Legend’s Nite” where he will also interact with former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. Pele is also slated to meet two-time Academy award winning music composer A R Rahman and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal will also join the show through a video conference. As the legend’s high-security band made its access the people, an over-enthusiastic Mohun Bagan supporter, waving the club’s green-and-maroon pennant, tried before bring in Pele’s interest, perhaps working to remember him of a given happening find who had stopped in a 2-2…

On Tuesday, Pele will be meeting the Atletico de Kolkata players before attending their ISL outing against Kerala Blasters in the evening and stay at the Salt Lake Stadium for the entire duration of the match.

He would also meet the ATK players at a city hotel the same day. The Brazilian would round off a hectic day by taking part in an auction dinner. The proceeds would go the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.