Footie-Facts Presents:
The Identity Of Pele Revealed
An awesome man and soccer player
By Richard T. Kerr-Bell
Pele is one awesome man and soccer player,
Contents:
·Description of Socio-cultural Group of the Family of
Origin
·Historical Event: Professional Football in Brazil 1933
Donߣt be fooled these reports are robust and between the two of
them deliver everything promised and a little moreߪ
So enjoy them and share them with friends (please include
all links).
I have written them from my passion for Pele and to get to
know him more deeply and intimately as someone who hasnߣt met
him can at least.
Take care, have fun and God Bless,
Arohanui, Richard Kerr-Bell
http://www.training-soccer-expert.com/
mailto:richlife@xtra.co.nz
Welcome to this four part series on what É?My Life and the
Beautiful GameÉ? reveals about Pele.
Installment No.1
Peleߣs Family Origins
It is possible to assume from photos included in Peleߣs
autobiography and in Peleߣs descriptions of being ߢblackߣ, that
he descends from the 3 million African people brought to Brazil
as slaves between the mid-1500s and 1850-88 when slavery was
abolished in Brazil. (Microsoft Encarta online Encyclopaedia
2001)É?I have often been asked if, being black, I ever faced
racial prejudiceÉ?(Pele, 1977, p.83)
While African spiritualism and other African customs have
continued from their native lands of the Congo, Mozambique and
West Africa, it is obvious that the Catholic culture of the
Portuguese has played a role in the families belief system.
Pele mentions his baptism explaining his delight at meeting
Popes John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, and what it meant for him. Most
of Brazilߣs population and particularly that of black
Brazilians until the 1960sߣ, lived rurally working in gold
mines or sugar plantations and later on the coffee plantations.
The Government then encouraged multi-national investors into
Brazil, expanding the Iron and Steel Industries resulting in
many people moving into urban areas particularly in the
southeast, where Pele grew up. Dondinho (nickname), Peleߣs
father was a professional soccer player. The family moved
around as Dondinho followed employment opportunities with
different clubs. While Dondinho signed for a big club, an
injury in the first game of the season meant a return home. He
played for minor clubs receiving a wage É?called in Portuguese
a mixera ߝnot a very nice word meaning less than
nothingÉ?(Pele, 1977). There was no insurance or compensation
scheme at the time. He also worked in a hospital as a cleaner.
Dona Celeste (Peleߣs mother) did not appear to have paid
employment though she was bringing up three children.
Dona Celeste and Joao Ramos de Nascimento, his mother and
father both express values as told by Pele, of the dignity of
people, the value of a promise and carrying ones self with
respect. Family was an important value to the parents. His
motherߣs brother Jorge, and her mother, Dona Ambrosina, lived
with them and were consulted in various decisions about the
family. Pele also records his own concern and affection for his
family.
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