NEW DELHI: In his week-long visit to India, this is the first time Pele got a taste of Indian football, that too, at the grassroots. In Kolkata, the Brazilian legend had got a hang of the cash-rich Indian Super League (ISL), but so far, he had remained clueless about how India’s young guns play.
And on the last day of his tour, he witnessed a nail-biting final of Subroto Cup (U-17) as the boys from AIFF FC and Little Angels Paradise School (Manipur) displayed quality football. As the AIFF outfit outclassed their opponent 4-1, the Brazilian looked quite excited. Watching the proceedings from the VIP arena, the Black Pearl appreciated every good move or the quality passes by waving at the footballers.
That was enough to inspire the young guns. Receiving the trophy from the legend, AIFF captain Deependra Negi still couldn’t believe that he was actually congratulated by Pele. “It is unbelievable. For every footballer, Pele is an absolute icon. It’s such a great honour to receive the trophy from him,” an emotional Negi told.
And not just Negi, it was quite an eventful afternoon for the national capital too. Despite showing a lukewarm response on the first two days, thousands of football enthusiasts gathered at the stadium just to catch a glimpse of the legend. As Pele roamed around the stadium in a jeep, one could only hear a thousand voices chanting his name. The 74-year-old too made it a point to wave back at them. “I love you all. It is a pleasure to be here,” he said.
The organisers — Indian Air Force — left no stone unturned to make the afternoon a memorable one. As Pele walked into the stadium for the first time, there was a festive feeling. The Air Force band performed for the special guest, there were song and dance routines by students from various city schools, and of course there were fireworks, to make every moment special.
But all that festivities, however, had no impact on the game. With the young guns showing determination, both sides put up a perfect show. Even Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha couldn’t stop thanking Pele for motivating the youngsters. “His (Pele) presence will definitely boost the game in the country. It will help more and more young players take up football,” Raha said.
On his second visit to the country, he may not have proposed any path-breaking idea for Indian football, but on Thursday, he made it a point to interact with the players. “Play for your team. Work hard,” he told the young guns.
