Pele’s farewell scheduled for this week has begun today with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his longtime team, Santos. The “King” of football, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 82 after a protracted battle with cancer, is being remembered at the oceanfront home of the squad known as “Peixe,” which means “fish” in Portuguese.
The stadium’s doors will open at 10:00 a.m. local time (1300 GMT). The only player to have won three World Cups will have his remains on display in the field’s middle.
The stadium, which is black and white and goes by the name Vila Belmiro after the district where it is situated, can hold 16,000 spectators.
Three enormous flags, one of which featured a picture of Pele wearing the renowned number 10 on his shirt, were visible in the stands on Sunday.
Long live the king was written on another, and “Pele 82 years” was written on the third.
Officials said that Tuesday’s entry to the stadium would be permitted until 10:00 am.
Following that, a procession through the streets of Santos, a port city located about 75 kilometers (47 miles) from the state capital Sao Paulo, will take place.
Pele’s mother, Celeste Arantes, who is 100 years old and has no idea that her renowned son has passed away, will see the parade pass by her home.
“She doesn’t know,” Pele’s sister Maria Lucia do Nascimento told ESPN on Friday. “She is not conscious.”
- Tags: King Pelé, Pele’s sister, Pelé's burial
