Pele ends controversy: ‘You can never have another Pele’

Kolkata: Brazilian Soccer Legend Pele wave to his fans after he arrives at a city hotel in Kolkata on Sunday. (PTI)

It was during the finals of the 1970 Football World Cup that a commentator asked his colleague: “How do you define Pele?” “God”, came the prompt reply.

The “God” will turn 75 on October 23 and already has an invite from Queen of England to celebrate it at the Buckingham Palace. “As a sportsman, I can’t eat too much of cake. I (will) prefer the kiss (from Queen Elizabeth),” Pele said Monday during an interaction with students at NSHM Knowledge Campus.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery('.rel-article').bxSlider({ maxSlides: 6, slideMargin: 3 }); });

A few hours later, he was asked when and if there could be another Pele. “When I went to Holland, they said (Johan) Cruyff was the new Pele. In England, they said it was George Best. In Argentina, they said (Diego) Maradona was the new Pele. And in Germany, they said it was (Franz) Beckenbauer. But listen, I’m sorry. You can never have another Pele. My father and mother stopped the machine,” the football legend said at Netaji Indoor Stadium where he also cut a birthday cake.

Overwhelmed at seeing the cake, which was a replica of the Jules Rimet Trophy that Brazil made their own after winning the World Cup for the third time in 1970, the ‘Black Pearl’ said, “Thank you god. People have worked very hard to give me this opportunity. Some of you present here were not even born when I had come here 38 years ago. Now, I’m glad to be back here with the new generation”.
Oscar winning musician A R Rahman, who has composed music for biopic on Pele, hummed ‘happy birthday to you” as the Brazilian master cut the cake.

Asked about the dubious penalty through which his New York Cosmos drew 2-2 against Mohun Bagan during an exhibition match at Eden Gardens in 1977, Pele said, “Everybody makes a mistake in life. Maybe they (referee) made a mistake but I don’t remember that. But it was a mistake that Kolkata cherished”.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly too had a question: “What makes a champion?”

“You got to have special gifts, but once you reach the top, don’t ever think you’re the best,” came the reply.

On being asked by state minister Firhad Hakim if he would be interested in becoming the technical director of the Indian football team, Pele said, “I was never invited. But if in any way I can help, I will do that”.

On the occasion, Chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that during next visit to Kolkata, Pele would be accorded a civic reception. “I request you to come again. You’re the king of football. We’ve many great footballers now. But when we were growing up, there was only Pele. You remain the greatest,” she said.