pele

(http://www.soccer-training-info.com/soccer_volleys.asp)

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." Pele. These words were said by the great Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or more commonly known as Pele. He was born on October 23, 1940 in Tres Coracoes, Brazil and he is still alive to this day. Although his popular nickname was Pele, he acquired another nickname, the Perola Negra, or “Black Pearl” by some of his compatriots. Pele had dropped out of school by the age of nine and his father, Joao Ramos do Nascomento provided instructions on what he knew about soccer because he was a former minor league center forward for a Brazilian Soccer Club. I doubt his father ever imagined his son would be such an extraordinary soccer player that changed the sport so immensely. Ever since he was a young boy, Pele’s aspiration in life was to be a professional soccer player. Having grown up in poverty, realistically, his hopes might be inadequate. Pele was not just another ordinary soccer player; he was an undeniable hero. This is partially because his bravery and mental toughness through the hardships he experienced. It was also due to the way he recreated soccer through his dedication, devotion, and heart he put into what he loved, shining and inspiring to others.

(http://www.cricages.com/cricket/twenty20/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-so-far/)

Pele grew up with a deficit and knew what it felt like to have to have the vigor through complications life presented him with and was accomplished in life because of his tough mentality and fortitude. For reference, Pele was more of a “street” player because of his poverty as shown, “Since he was quite poor, he could not afford to join some expensive club to learn football…Pele could not afford to buy a football, so, he used to practice with either a grapefruit or sock stuffed with newspaper tied with a string.”(“Pele Biography) Even through such a harsh environment, Pele’s main focus was on enhancing his soccer skills, which shows his tenacity as he accomplished his objective. Obviously this was not a temperate task given his environment, so this demonstrates how determined he must have been with how little he had to improve with as a soccer player. In addition, Pele was seen as the stand-out player on the field arousing difficult as stated, “Injuries kept Pele out of Brazil’s second World Cup win in 1962, but he led Santos to victories against Europe’s top teams in the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup in 1962 and 1963. But as Pele’s reputation grew, so did infighting on the international soccer circuit. The Santos club’s opponents focused all their efforts on injuring Pele, the mainstay of the team.”( "Pelé." DISCovering) Pele’s daring ways shows he understands that he was the main target of the other team and he would always be risking injuries out on the field playing. How is it that Pele handled all this pressure? He did have irritation and grievance towards the teams that purposely directed all their players to put him in such distress, but Pele was so courageous that he pushed past his discomfort for his love for the game. Undoubtedly, Pele had his fair share of struggles, but used his prowess to push beyond the contention on and off the field.

(http://www.seethecup.com/brazil/40-years-of-peles-goal-1000/)

Pele was also very dedicated, devoted, and a passionate player, and it showed as his skill on the field took soccer to a whole new level stunning his viewers. This is evident in the statement, “By the time he was thirteen, Pele had captured the attention of World Cup great Waldemar de Brito, manager of Bauru junior team, Pele became one of the club’s best players.” ("Pelé." U*X*L) This shows how much effort and discipline Pele put into improving because of his zealous desire to grow as a soccer player. I could not imagine the massive amount of work he must have put in to have been recognized by a high-level coach at such a young age. In addition, Pele can be summarized as, “A forward, Pele electrified crowds with his daring dribbling, perfect passing, and accurate shooting. He holds every major scoring record in Brazil, and scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games during his professional career. Pele is the only professional soccer player to score 1,000 goals in a career.”("Pele Biography) What an arduous achievement. It’s unbelievable to really grasp the thought of how successful Pele really was. His love for the sport is quite obvious as he played 1,363 games, but you also can see how far his commitment got him and how much fanfare he brought to soccer. We should give recognition for his accomplishments because he forever changed soccer as a spectator’s sport. Pele was so comfortable and knowledgeable of the game and of the ball itself, that he knew when it was essential to take certain risks when he had possession. This contributed to the evolution and new understandings strategies of the game. In summary, Pele’s loyalty and passion drove his skill to such an elevated level and made a lasting impact on the future of soccer.

(http://braziliansoccer.webs.com/pele.htm)

His skill, devotion, mental toughness, and knowledge of the game are all qualities of Pele. Above all though, it is his true love for the game that makes Edson Arantes my hero and inspiration. I started my essay off with a quote from Pele himself because I feel that it defines him perfectly. That’s just what Pele did. He learned to do what he loved the most to the best of his ability, so that he would not only enjoy what he was doing, but be successful at it as well. He describes the hard work and sacrifice it will take so we understand it will not be easy, yet we are still inspired. This is because Pele proved it possible. At such a young age he had set a goal to become a professional soccer player and he did that and much more. He arouses a sense of motivation as explained, “I saw Pele a few times afterward, when he was playing for the New York Cosmos. He was no longer as fast, but he was as exuberant as ever. By then, Pele had become an institution. Most modern fans never saw him play, yet they somehow felt he was part of their lives. He made the transition from superstar to mythic figure.”("Pele Biography) Moreover, Time also explains him as, “Heroes walk alone, but they become myths when they ennoble the lives and touch the hearts of all of us. For those who love soccer, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, generally known as Pele, is a hero.”("Pele Biography) Pele brought something new and special to the game, grasping the attention of youth soccer players largely because of the popularity he brought to the game. As you can see, because of Pele’s determination, bravery, and passion he has changed soccer forever, and I can proudly say that he is part of my life as not only my inspiration, but my hero.