The Identity of Pele Revealed

Written by Richard T. Kerr-Bell


Continued from page 1

Pele’s story of success and achievement isrepparttar exception for professional footballers, however this should not discountrepparttar 133175 many advantages Professional Football has brought torepparttar 133176 poor and disadvantaged living inrepparttar 133177 same conditions Pele grew up in, andrepparttar 133178 communities who find identity, joy, and delight beyond their immediate circumstance. “The central position ofrepparttar 133179 soccer club in Brazilian communities sustains pluralism by giving people of similar backgrounds a place to meet. Soccer clubs can offerrepparttar 133180 only form of organised activity in poor areas. The soccer club was often a communities first voluntary organisation, and even today soccer clubs offer millions of people, their only experience with grass roots democracy” (Arbena, 1988, p.90)

Joao do Nascimento, Pele’s father, was known as an excellent footballer and his skills were in demand byrepparttar 133181 smaller teams inrepparttar 133182 State of Mines Gerais. This meantrepparttar 133183 family moved around during Pele’s childhood, which gave him impressionable experiences such as a train ride, and seeing parts ofrepparttar 133184 country he had never even heard of. The most significant influence to benefitrepparttar 133185 family wasrepparttar 133186 promise of a public service job to supplement his income. Pele comments (1977) that his mother who had “threatened to start a small war” over another shift, surrendered instantly on hearingrepparttar 133187 promise of a state job. Contacts Joao made during his career helped Pele later on as he progressed as a player. A significant result, which would have been noted by Pele growing up in a poor community wasrepparttar 133188 respect afforded to his dad andrepparttar 133189 esteem with which others held him. “Jorge [Pele’s uncle] loved my father and Jorge secretly envied my fathers ability to play football and have people cheer him fromrepparttar 133190 stands, and have people crossrepparttar 133191 street to come over and say hello when he walked throughrepparttar 133192 town.” (Pele, 1977).

While observing and cherishing his father’s involvement as a professional player, it also inspired Pele in his vocational choice and gave him a focus as a boy beyond his environment. Pele tells how he lived for football playing inrepparttar 133193 Bauru youth team, “dreaming ofrepparttar 133194 day when I would get to play with BAC (Bauru Athletic Club) as a professional”(Pele, 1977).

Instalment No.4

The Young Genius Playing football for a living, and on making it into a Club of national significance, Pele was assured of an income and opportunities, which his level of education (He has to repeat his 4th year twice making 6 years at school), social class, and his parents financial situation could never have enabled. Injury would have ended this at anytime as it did his fathers opportunity inrepparttar 133195 big time. At 15 Pele signed a contract well aboverepparttar 133196 minimum wage for an adult in1958 (Pele, p.100) and was housed and fed “mammoth meals… foods we had rarely been able to afford in our house in Bauru” (Pele, 1977, p.98) His compulsory military service turning 18 was more an advancement inrepparttar 133197 football education and experience playing 100 games during 1959 forrepparttar 133198 Army Barracks team,repparttar 133199 Brazilian Army team,repparttar 133200 National team, and his Club side Santos. (The Colonel in charge of him was a director at Santos Football Club).

Many stories are told of Pele honing his soccer skills by having to play with a grapefruit or many socks stuffed into another, which were often stolen ofrepparttar 133201 clothesline of a neighbour. The benefits derived fromrepparttar 133202 inception of professional soccer in Brazil includerepparttar 133203 status Pele has achieved through his success and ability as a player and inrepparttar 133204 success ofrepparttar 133205 Brazilian National team. He has held a government post, had access to political, religious and social leaders, travel to over 88 countries and has held posts such as a United Nations sponsored anti-drug campaigner, ambassador for F.I.F.A (The world governing body for Soccer). His status has allowed him to challenge Government policy or lack of it without censor or repercussions at times where military dictators did not tolerate any criticism or protest.

What is obvious in reading his biography, is thatrepparttar 133206 greatest effect professional football has had on Pele, is his ability to support his family out ofrepparttar 133207 poverty they lived in, andrepparttar 133208 dependence and hopelessness such living conditions cause. He also wrote passionately about being able to advancerepparttar 133209 opportunity of other children inrepparttar 133210 world through soccer. Going back to complete his education and to university level, is also an achievement made possible byrepparttar 133211 personal strengths he learned fromrepparttar 133212 demands of professional soccer andrepparttar 133213 financial rewards and confidence it had provided.26 years after retiring, Pele is still able to command a huge following. He is in great demand as a speaker, a guest at international events, and to commentate inrepparttar 133214 political and sporting arena. Votedrepparttar 133215 Sports Personality ofrepparttar 133216 Century by 54 sports editors and journalists from 35 countries (Carroll, 1999, in Africana.com web site, p.2) ahead of Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Michael Jordan and Jesse Owens, Pele continues to feelrepparttar 133217 effects and influence professional soccer has had and is having in his life since it’s inauguration in 1933.

Richard coaches elite soccer players at the Otago Polytechnic’s Academy of Sport and takes statistics for the National Soccer League Team “Otago United” in The NZFC. He is passionate about soccer and people.


Why Coach Soccer? And how to have fun doing it.

Written by Richard T. Kerr-Bell


Continued from page 1

8. If you are a player in a club you get praise from members inrepparttar club, you get onrepparttar 133174 “in” withrepparttar 133175 other coaches in case you wanted to advance a career in this way, and you get some equipment to use whenever you want to improve your own game.

9. It will add to your attractiveness to employers as coaching soccer or any sport, showsrepparttar 133176 attributes above. These are easily re-worded to suitrepparttar 133177 job type. E.g. Active Member of my Community. It shows commitment, reliability, purpose, and that you can get out of bed inrepparttar 133178 morning.

10. Personal satisfaction. Winning your competition, one game, or having kept a bunch of people happy and offrepparttar 133179 streets. Plus you are involved doing what you love, Soccer (sport).

I once coached soccer at a local high school and these young boys (11 and 12 yrs) came to class with short black pen marked onrepparttar 133180 top of their wrists and hands… “What is that for?”, I asked, “We’re Mr. Kerr-Bell” they said! Never under estimate your power.

There are many coaching videos, courses (often run by your local Soccer Club), books and other coaches to help you. A good way to start is to supportrepparttar 133181 coach, be a manager, or gear minder person and learn that way. Showing up to practices to help is also useful.

Coaching soccer is a full on commitment that reflects everythingrepparttar 133182 Real Madrid’s and Manchester United coaches experience (exceptrepparttar 133183 money and chance off being replaced if you lose!)

So enjoyrepparttar 133184 rush of excitement and adrenaline that coaching gives on matchday…

(PS. Look up soccer club directory online inrepparttar 133185 search box or thumb through your phonebook to find a club near you.)

Get out there coaching soccer and make a difference and remember, if you are there forrepparttar 133186 game or kids... you have already won.

By Richard Kerr-Bell

richlife@xtra.co.nz

www.training-soccer-expert.com

Richard coaches elite soccer players at the Otago Polytechnic’s Academy of Sport and takes statistics for the National Soccer League Team “Otago United” in The NZFC. He is passionate about soccer and people.


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