When King Pele enjoyed ‘beautiful game’ with school kids in Delhi

New Delhi: “It’s an honour for me to celebrate the world’s greatest sport with the children of India,” these words from Pele seven years ago will ring forever in the ears of football fans in Delhi. It was the first time in October 2015, Pele, considered by many as the greatest footballer of all time, set foot on Delhi and he simply won the hearts of football fans of the capital city, not by his dazzling skills on the field but as a true ambassador of the ‘beautiful game’.

His two-day visit of Delhi was the last time he interacted with Indian football fans and public at large. He was the chief guest at the boys U-17 final of Subroto Cup inter-school football tournament at the Ambedkar stadium on October 17, 2015. Just a few days ahead of his 75th birthday, Pele sent the 20000-capacity Ambedkar stadium into frenzy as he made a round trip of the ground on an open top Indian Air Force jeep ahead of the Subroto Cup final on October 16. He gave away the trophies to the two teams with Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha in tow. His reception at the Delhi airport on October 15 was not a grand affair as a little over 100 people turned up just after 8pm. Pele, who was restricted in movement due to three surgeries he had that year, including on his hip, stood up from the car and waved to the crowd with a wide smile. —