Continued from page 1
Pele’s story of success and achievement is
exception for professional footballers, however this should not discount many advantages Professional Football has brought to poor and disadvantaged living in same conditions Pele grew up in, and communities who find identity, joy, and delight beyond their immediate circumstance. “The central position of soccer club in Brazilian communities sustains pluralism by giving people of similar backgrounds a place to meet. Soccer clubs can offer 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 by smaller teams in State of Mines Gerais. This meant family moved around during Pele’s childhood, which gave him impressionable experiences such as a train ride, and seeing parts of country he had never even heard of. The most significant influence to benefit family was 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 hearing 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 was respect afforded to his dad and 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 from stands, and have people cross street to come over and say hello when he walked through 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 in Bauru youth team, “dreaming of 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 in big time. At 15 Pele signed a contract well above 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 in football education and experience playing 100 games during 1959 for Army Barracks team, Brazilian Army team, 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 of clothesline of a neighbour. The benefits derived from inception of professional soccer in Brazil include status Pele has achieved through his success and ability as a player and in success of 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 that greatest effect professional football has had on Pele, is his ability to support his family out of poverty they lived in, and dependence and hopelessness such living conditions cause. He also wrote passionately about being able to advance opportunity of other children in world through soccer. Going back to complete his education and to university level, is also an achievement made possible by personal strengths he learned from demands of professional soccer and 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 in political and sporting arena. Voted Sports Personality of 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 feel 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.
