Nigerian fans of football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pelé, will have the opportunity to meet their soccer idol August 11-12, 2016, courtesy of the Winihin Jemide Series (WJS) and Youth Experience Days Africa. His two-day visit will focus on youth development and empowerment.
The event will involve teenagers, parents, key government officials from different states, and officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and will include a sports clinic tagged, Legend Tournament, and a gala night with Pelé and other African football legends.
There will also be an auction of Pelé’s memorabilia at the gala night. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to an eligible local youth football academy.
Pelé is renowned for many achievements including scoring 1,281 goals in his professional career and receiving an honorary knighthood from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. He was named ‘Athlete of the Century’ and ‘Player of the Century’ by the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, respectively, among others.
This will be Pelé’s second visit to Nigeria. The first in 1967 was occasioned by a two-day ceasefire during the Nigerian Civil War, which allowed the warring sides to watch the Pele and Santos team play an exhibition match in Lagos.
His then club, Santos, played against the Nigerian national side, then known as Green Eagles. The match ended 2-2 with Pelé scoring the two Santos goals.
The football legend has been involved with a number of charity activities with a focus on children, youth empowerment and campaign against societal ills. He has partnered with UNICEF and Great Ormond Street Hospital to raise funds for children’s causes. He was also appointed United Nations ambassador with a focus on environment protection.
In June, Pelé auctioned some of his personal memorabilia – including World Cup medals and a replica of Jules Rimet trophy, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale going to Pequeno Principe, the largest children’s hospital in Brazil, which Pelé said was close to his heart.
