Pelé parallels in the year 2023
Pelé parallels in the year 2023
An epic Fifa World Cup Final 2022 that rolled into Christmas and then just when the festive season spirits peaked and the idea of a New Year enticed to get resolutions going, the news of Pele’s death rocked the world. The 29th of December 2022 feels like robbery of a life of a man we adored, wished we knew and if only we met.
Football, the universal language and one that, we as the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) subscribe to, means that if you know or heard of Pelé you’d be spell bound by the way he spoke, played, interacted and used football to spread love, hope and encouragement. He took his talent and lived it out so much so that you didn’t need to know him personally to feel electrified by his passion for people and this sport, that we as a Union stand guard to everyday in South Africa!
The world frozen in time on that day, players tweeting, posting, talking, social media buzzing that it seemed a red carpet of memories laid strewn across the socials of the world of an activist that generations to come will learn of, talk of and still applaud for he did the unimaginable….
- 3 - World Cup Titles
- 6 – Brasiliero Cups
- 2- Copa Libatadores
- FIFA Player of the Century
- 1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
- Youngest Winner of a World Cup
- Most hat-ricks of all time (‘92)
- Most assists in World Cup History (10)
Safe to say, he is forever an icon!
Against the backdrop of football in SA – we adopt that vigour and life he spoke into football by embodying it and while we won’t ever score goals the way he did, or have a stadium named in our honour the world over, or shake the hands of at least five Presidents, we understand that our job as gatekeepers to the sport for players who may be well on their way to greatness, is not one that we take lying down – it’s a purpose that we embrace and understand. This is our Pelé parallel in the year 2023.
“We as SAFPU welcome in the New Year understanding fully what our role within the football fraternity is. Right here at home we mourn the loss of Peter Mancer (Premier Soccer League) as well as Coal City Wizards Chairman Mabu Moroaswi, both whose heart beat was football. There has been over the last few weeks many deep losses in the world of football, Pelé being one, but we draw strength and know that as a New Year dawns, the game must go on ,” Nhlanhla Shabalala, SAFPU’s Secretary General.
Football is a family, a universal one.
So when you get a seat at the table, it is not only for us to enjoy what is being served, but to protect and defend and raise our voices, to be heard and understood for the sake of footballers in our country.
You see, Pelé did just that – his contribution took football from pretty to beautiful and the world still stands in awe!