Instalment No.4

The Young Genius
Playing football for a living, and on making it into a Club of national significance, Pele was assured of an income and opportunities, which his level of education (He has to repeat his 4th year twice making 6 years at school), social class, and his parents financial situation could never have enabled. Injury would have ended this at anytime as it did his fathers opportunity in the big time. At 15 Pele signed a contract well above the minimum wage for an adult in1958 (Pele, p.100) and was housed and fed É?mammoth mealsߪ foods we had rarely been able to afford in our house in BauruÉ? (Pele, 1977, p.98) His compulsory military service turning 18 was more an advancement in the football education and experience playing 100 games during 1959 for the Army Barracks team, the Brazilian Army team, the National team, and his Club side Santos. (The Colonel in charge of him was a director at Santos Football Club).

Many stories are told of Pele honing his soccer skills by having to play with a grapefruit or many socks stuffed into another, which were often stolen of the clothesline of a neighbour.
The benefits derived from the inception of professional soccer in Brazil include the status Pele has achieved through his success and ability as a player and in the success of the Brazilian National team. He has held a government post, had access to political, religious and social leaders, travel to over 88 countries and has held posts such as a United Nations sponsored anti-drug campaigner, ambassador for F.I.F.A (The world governing body for Soccer). His status has allowed him to challenge Government policy or lack of it without censor or repercussions at times where military dictators did not tolerate any criticism or protest.

What is obvious in reading his biography, is that the greatest effect professional football has had on Pele, is his ability to support his family out of the poverty they lived in, and the dependence and hopelessness such living conditions cause. He also wrote passionately about being able to advance the opportunity of other children in the world through soccer.
Going back to complete his education and to university level, is also an achievement made possible by the personal strengths he learned from the demands of professional soccer and the financial rewards and confidence it had provided.26 years after retiring, Pele is still able to command a huge following. He is in great demand as a speaker, a guest at international events, and to commentate in the political and sporting arena. Voted the Sports Personality of the Century by 54 sports editors and journalists from 35 countries (Carroll, 1999, in Africana.com web site, p.2) ahead of Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Michael Jordan and Jesse Owens, Pele continues to feel the effects and influence professional soccer has had and is having in his life since itߣs inauguration in 1933.

Richard coaches elite soccer players at the Otago Polytechnicߣs Academy of Sport and takes statistics for the National Soccer League Team É?Otago UnitedÉ? in The NZFC. He is passionate about soccer and people. Provided By: Article Feeder - Recreation and Sports