Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele)
by Gabby from Midlothian
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| (https://www.biography.com/people/pel%C3%A9-39221 (Biography.com Editors)) |
Born in a small village on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Brazil, Pele was the first child of brother, Zeca Nascimento and sister, Maria Lucia Nascimento. He had very supportive and loving parents. His dad was Joao Ramos do Nascimento and mom was Celeste Arantes. Originally nicknamed Dico, his friends started calling him Pele after his favourite football player Vasco da Gama 'Bile', whom he mispronounced as Pele . He moved to the city of Bauru with his family as a young boy. Struck by poverty, he took up various odd jobs as a child to earn extra money. He received his early lessons in soccer from his father and played for various amateur teams in his youth. Struck by poverty, he took up various odd jobs as a child to earn extra money. He received his early lessons in soccer from his father and played for various amateur teams in his youth. Blessed with the talent for the game and a style of his own, he found himself a place at the Bauru Athletic Club juniors, which was coached by Waldemar de Brito. He led the team to three consecutive victories from 1954 to 1956. Additionally, he won several local indoor football competitions and championships. There is not much information available about Pele's education, but he did attend at one of Brazil's public schools in Bauru up until the fourth grade, as he grew up very poor. Pele often missed school in order to play soccer at nearby parks and in the fields, using an old sock stuffed with rags as a ball. He played soccer barefoot and developed many of his dribbling skills at this time.
Pele is my hero because he sets such a great example for the younger soccer people, poor people who want to grow up and not be poor like him, or just regular people who want to be like him in a way. He did the world a great favor and showed everybody what the sport of soccer is all about. When he joined the Santos Football Club in 1956, he was the only player to participate in three World Cup victories. He led his Brazilian team to titles in 1958, 1962, and 1970.By 1970, he had scored his 1000th goal, becoming the most prolific goal-scorer in history. By 1974, when he retired for the first time, Pele had scored 1200 goals in 1253 games and had become a Brazilian national hero, my hero. If Pele hadn't existed then people wouldn't be working so hard to get as good as him or better. He wouldn't have been that example to show other people why soccer exists and why so many people love it and love to play it.
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| His famous bicycle kick against Belgium in 1968 (https://www.sportskeeda.com (Rohan Menon)) |
I chose Pele because my favorite thing to do is soccer. I play soccer everyday all day. When I first heard about him, I immediately started to look him up. I wanted to learn more about who he is and why he is so famous. I soon was watching videos of him constantly and wanting to learn his tricks and moves. He once said, "Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing" - Pele . I have never in my life heard a better quote than that. It's saying that success isn't an accident. Instead of just going through the motions and not working for it, you have to work your butt off. Even if you're a natural at what you're doing, you always have to practice and work on it if you want to be successful. The very last part of the quote means that if you don't love what you're doing, then that is not the right thing for you. If you just like it and you're doing it for money or even because someone is making you, then just drop out or say you don't want to do it anymore. Pele is an amazing legend, role model, example, historian, and my hero.
Page created on 6/6/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last edited 6/6/2017 12:00:00 AM
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