The president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, was one of the first authorities to arrive, this Monday (2), at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, in Vila Belmiro, in Santos (SP), where the funeral of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele. In a press conference, the manager praised the legacy left by the King of Football, who died last Wednesday (29), aged 82. “Pelé had the gift of the greatest of all time, something that few people in the world have. A gift of touching people’s hearts and emotions. It is a fact that many people, like me, have not seen him play, but my father always told me a lot about him,” said Infantino. “He was the first to do many things on the field. Things that 99% of people don’t even dream of doing and that the other 1% do one thing or another”, added the Fifa official, who was alongside other football leaders, as the presidents of the Brazilian (CBF) and South American (Conmebol) Confederations, Ednaldo Rodrigues and Alejandro Domínguez, respectively. Another authority to attend Pelé’s funeral was Tarcísio de Freitas. The governor of São Paulo, sworn in last Sunday (1st), highlighted the importance of the King of Football in the history of the Brazilian team. The Athlete of the Century is the only player to have won the World Cup three times. “It’s paying homage to the greatest of all. Brazil owes a lot to Pelé, for everything he’s done for football, for the country, the way he’s positioned himself all his life. It’s an honor for Brazil to say that we have the greatest player football of all time. Three of our stars were conquered thanks to the genius of Pelé, who is unique, immortal. Nothing fairer than paying this simple homage. Tarcísio, on arrival at Vila Belmiro. The wake The body of Pelé, who died last Thursday (29), was transported from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in São Paulo, to Vila Belmiro during the early hours of the morning. The coffin is in the center of the stadium’s turf. The wake is opened. Public access is through gates 2 and 3 (Rua Dom Pedro), while authorities access gates 10 and 15 (Rua Princesa Isabel). Two tents were erected on the lawn. One of them, where Pelé’s coffin is, is intended for family members, historic Santos idols and guests. The other is aimed at other authorities. The general public walks along a platform, which is to the left of the first tent. After the wake, a parade will be held through the streets of Santos, which will pass along Avenida Coronel Joaquim Montenegro (known as Canal 6), where Pelé’s mother, Celeste Arantes, lives, who turned 100 on November 20th. From there, the body of the number 10 will be taken to the Ecumenical Necropolis Memorial, for burial in a ceremony restricted to family members.
Agência Brasil
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