metro
Pele on Nigeria: ‘Achieving ceasefire in Biafran War my proudest moment’
The beautiful game not just changed Pele’s life but one around him as well as at one point his club Santos was in demand to play teams in Europe.
Apart from the goals and the artistry on the field, there was much more to the legend of Pele. For a boy who initially wanted to be a pilot, only for an accident to ruin it, football became Pele’s world when he saw his father cry after Brazil lost the final to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup at the Maracana. From being part of a video game to stop a war in Nigeria to being called a National Treasure, there are a lot of factors that contributed to the legend of Pele.
The boy who wanted to fly a plane
Pelé, first went to an airport to sell peanuts as a very young boy from an impoverished home. But young Edson’s dream, seen barefoot and from dirt roads, was to fly for he loved everything at Bauru’s aerodrome — planes, gliders and pilots who take off from airfields.
A glider’s accident and death jolts Edson in 1940s, as he and his group of friends go looking for the wreckage and then the mortuary in the southeast of Brazil. From a window, they watched the autopsy and the dripping blood from a severed arm put him off his pilot dreams forever.
READ ALSO:
- 2023: PDP elders sweat over G5’s ‘deal’ with APC
- Lawan: Buhari to sign 2023 budget next Tuesday
- Suspected pedophile arrested over minor sexual defilement in Lagos
Compelled by circumstances to start out on a shoeshine kit, he hunkers down to bring in money. Ironically he plays shoeless when kicking about a make-do football in the streets. They can’t afford both. Dreams of football aren’t cheap.
Pelé was the ‘I’ in the Edson bulb
His mother Celeste came from a town called Três Corações, in the Minas Gerais state in the ’30s and ’40s. Like most of interior Brazil, they had no electricity, and lots of football clubs. It’s where she met his father Joao, known as Dondinho, who played for the local club while doing his military service. They married and her first child was born around the time electricity came to Três Corações.
The baby was named after Thomas Edison. He was officially nicknamed Dico, but his real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimiento. At school, he pronounced the name of the local club Vasco da Gama goalkeeper, Bile as Pile so, a classmate started calling him Pele. The man himself thought it was like babbling and didn’t like the name.
Besides the King, in Brazil he was often called “Pérola Negra” which meant Black Pearl. “I was really proud that I was named after Thomas Edison and wanted to be called Edson. I thought Pelé sounded horrible. It was a rubbish name. Edson sounded so much more serious and important,” he once told The Guardian.
When Edson decided to form a football club with his friends, they had neither gear nor shoes. But in a pre-TV world, they had football stickers, like trading cards of famous players and their trivia. Pooling stickers into complete sets they decided to swap those for some gear.
The other ingenious scheme was to whisk away peanuts out of freight trains and sell them outside stadiums, airports and theatres. The first gear came from sacks of these stolen munchies.
The ball came from the sticker stash. When a reasonably well-off parent of three playing brothers offered to buy them shoes for the Mayor’s trophy, they changed their name to Amériquinha. The nickname-that-shall-not-be-uttered resounded through the stadium as Pelé won the tournament as the top scorer. A star was born. Pelé didn’t sound all that awful after all.
The other teen of 1958 vintage
José Altafinini’s likeness got cast in ‘Pele: Birth of a legend’, as the antagonist of Italian descent — the brash bully who tormented Pele. In fact, both came from humble backgrounds and the rivalry was garden-variety inter-club friction. But Altafini ‘Mazolla’ offered a counterpoint, an alter ego, a spark for Pele to shine bright, with both becoming Brazil’s youngest debutants at the 1958 World Cup. Two years older to Pele, young Altafini, grew up in poverty, 200 km away from Bauru in Piricica, the son of a worker and a maid.
Vanguard
metro
Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Anambra
Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Anambra
The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi has announced the gruesome murder of Reverend Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo by unknown assailants.
Rev Fr Okonkwo, who is also a pharmacist, was shot dead in Ihiala on Boxing Day.
The killing of the clergyman came barely two weeks after the abduction of a 75-year-old retired Anglican Archbishop, Most Reverend Godwin Okpala and their whereabouts have remained unknown.
A statement signed by Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu, Chancellor of the Nnewi Diocese, Rev Fr Raphael Ezeonu said Fr. Tobias was killed between 7 pm and 8 pm along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.
READ ALSO:
- Lagos Imam to Tinubu: You haven’t disappointed us
- Ronaldo, Vinicius, Yamal win big at 2024 Globe Soccer Awards [Full list of winners]
- Vinicius should have won Ballon d’Or, not Rodri – Ronaldo
The statement described the incident as a devastating loss but expressed faith in divine consolation.
Born on August 11, 1984, Fr. Tobias was ordained as a priest on July 11, 2015.
At the time of his death, he was serving as the Manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala.
The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi called on the faithful to offer prayers and Holy Masses for the eternal rest of Fr. Tobias and to console his bereaved family.
The Diocese said funeral arrangements of Fr Okonkwo will be announced in due course.
Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Anambra
metro
Lagos Imam to Tinubu: You haven’t disappointed us
Lagos Imam to Tinubu: You haven’t disappointed us
The Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque, Ridhwan Jamiu, on Friday said President Bola Tinubu had not disappointed Nigerians.
The cleric said this during the Juma’at prayer at the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, with President Tinubu in attendance.
“We are proud of you. I remember that we encouraged people to vote for you during the campaigns.
” We thank God that you have not disappointed us.
“We know you are capable. We know you have the sagacity. We know you are competent.
“We believe and pray that you are not going to disappoint us.
” May Allah continue to be with you. Allah has entrusted Nigeria to you and will ask you for this trust,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to be grateful to Allah during times of fortune and be patient during adversity.
He reminded the faithful that unwavering hope and faith were essential to believers, even in challenging circumstances.
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
- Ronaldo, Vinicius, Yamal win big at 2024 Globe Soccer Awards [Full list of winners]
- Vinicius should have won Ballon d’Or, not Rodri – Ronaldo
- Nigeria Customs Service begins 2025 recruitment [How to apply]
He assured the president of the steadfast prayers and support of Muslim faithful as he governed the nation.
The cleric urged the president to remember accountability and responsibility to the people, saying responsibility was to the people while accountability was to Allah.
“Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: ” The most beloved of all people to Allah is the righteous and just leader.’
“We have seen righteousness in you and fairness and justice in you. Please keep it up and sustain it.
“You bear one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, Ahmed, someone who does what is praiseworthy.
” This name has been reflected in your past actions and we hope it will reflect in your actions now.”
The Juma’at prayer was the president’s first public outing since attending prayers at the Alausa Central Mosque on Dec. 20.
The president arrived in Nigeria’s commercial capital on Dec. 18 after presenting the 2025 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.
In honour of victims of the stampedes in Oyo and Anambra States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, which claimed lives, Tinubu had cancelled his public engagements.
On Dec. 23, the president hosted the maiden Presidential Media Chat at his Oyinkan Abayomi Drive Residence in Ikoyi.
As part of the Christmas and holiday festivities, he also received private visitors daily.
Lagos Imam to Tinubu: You haven’t disappointed us
metro
Dangote, Tinubu, Lookman named among 100 most influential Africans in 2024 (Full list)
Dangote, Tinubu, Lookman named among 100 most influential Africans in 2024 (Full list)
The New African magazine has unveiled a list of 100 individuals who have made significant impacts across politics, business, science, sports, and civil society in 2024.
This year’s edition takes an in-depth look at the lives and achievements of the individuals who are both on the continent and abroad, explained Anver Versi, editor of the London-based magazine.
Her statement reads, “We need this because I cannot recall the world being so polarised, so divided, so stone-faced in the face of terrible man-made atrocities.
“The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 edition of New African offers an in-depth look at the lives and achievements of the extraordinary individuals shaping the African narrative on the continent and abroad.
READ ALSO:
- Heavy security in Ilesa as ex-Osun deputy gov emerges new Owa-Obokun
- Hacker has stolen N180m from my NGO account – VeryDarkMan cries out
- LSM MD extols founder’s qualities after latter posthumous industry award
“Their stories serve as a source of inspiration and a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the African spirit.”
See full list and categories below…
Politics and Public Service
- Bassirou Diomaye Faye
- Kemi Badenoch
- Muhammad Ali Pate
- Claver Gatete
- Ali Mohamed
- King Mohamed VI
- Ronald Lamola
- Yemi Osinbajo
- Nardos Bekele-Thomas
- Ibrahima Cheikh Diong
Business
11. Robins Tchale-Watchou
12. Fatima Tambajang
13. Dr. Sidi Ould Tah
14. Samaila Zubairu
15. Thierno-Habib Hann
16. Akinwumi Adesina
17. Tariye Gbadegesin
18. Adebayo Ogunlesi
19. Wale Tinubu
20. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
21. Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah
22. Moulay Hafid Elalamy
23. Olugbenga Agboola
24. Alain Ebobissé
25. Tunde Olanrewaju
26. Nassef Sawiris
27. Aliko Dangote
28. Ismael Belkhayat
29. Hassatou Diop N’Sele
30. Jeremy Awori
31. Manuel Moses
32. Hassanein Hiridjee
33. Rene Awambeng
Civil Society
34. Joseph Moses Oleshangay
35. Mohamed Adow
36. Michael Kakande
37. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
38. William Asiko
39. Eva Omaghomi
40. Nelson Amenya
41. Helmy Abouleish
42. Binaifer Nowrojee
Science & Academia
43. Elhadj As Sy
44. Chinasa T. Okolo
45. Tshilidzi Marwala
46. Prof. Colleen Masimirembwa
47. Prof. Moses Obimbo Madadi
48. Rediet Abebe
49. Rachid Guerraoui
50. Abdoulaye Diabaté
51. Joy Buolamwini
52. Abeba Birhane
Opinion Shapers
53. Miatta Fahnbulleh
54. Olajide Olatunji
55. Carlos Lopes
56. Zain Verjee
57. John-Allan Namu
58. Vera Songwe
59. Nesrine Malik
60. Tayo Aina
61. Thebe Ikalafeng
62. Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi
63. Hannah Ryder
64. Ayman Mohyeldin
65. Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard
Creative
66. Zineb Sedira
67. Rita Mawuena Benissan
68. Iansmith Mwenda
69. Idris Elba
70. Ken Wakia
71. Adejoké Bakare
72. Ayra Starr
73. Selma Feriani
74. DJ Edu
75. Eugene Mbugua
76. Chigozie Obioma
77. Kamel Daoud
78. Tesfaye Urgessa
79. Mehdi Qotbi
80. DBN Gogo
81. Yinka Ilori
82. Amina Lola Shoneyin
83. Ekow Eshun
84. Zhong FeiFei
85. Mati Diop
86. Hassan Hajjaj
87. Koyo Kouoh
88. Mo Harawe
89. Victoria Kimani
Sports
90. Patrice Motsepe
91. Letsile Tebogo
92. Imane Khelif
93. Tunde Onakoya
94. Gelson Fernandes
95. Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane
96. Biniam Girmay
97. Ademola Lookman
98. Ruth Chepng’etich
99. Omar Berrada
100. Sifan Hassan
Dangote, Tinubu, Lookman named among 100 most influential Africans in 2024 (Full list)
-
metro3 days agoINTERPOL declares 14 Nigerians wanted for drug, human trafficking
-
metro1 day agoJigawa State governor loses son 24 hours after mother’s death
-
metro3 days agoIbadan stampede: She was treated like a terrorist, Queen Naomi’s sister says about her condition
-
Business3 days agoNNPCL launches production monitoring centre
-
Business2 days agoBe creative, monarch, others challenge Muslim professionals on economic revival
-
Entertainment21 hours agoMultiChoice announces free access to all DSTV channels for 3 days
-
metro15 hours agoHeavy security in Ilesa as ex-Osun deputy gov emerges new Owa-Obokun
-
Auto17 hours agoLSM MD extols founder’s qualities after latter posthumous industry award