Izuchukwu OkosiEdson Arantes dos Nascimento (Pele) lost his battle to colon cancer at the age of 82 on Thursday evening and there had been widespread outpouring of emotions since the announcement was made.
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Despite the demise of the football icon gaining global attention, his mother, Mrs Celeste Arantes is not aware of the death of her son.
Football Great, Pele, Succumbs To Cancer At 82
This was made known by the only sister of the three-time FIFA World Cup winner, Maria Lucia do Nascimento.
In an interview she granted a Brazilian news media outfit, Pele’s sister revealed that the family kept the news away from their 100-year-old mother.
“We talk but she doesn’t know the situation. She’s in her own world,” Pele’s younger sister, who is 78-years-old noted.
“She opens her her eyes when I mention his name and say: “We’re going to pray for him.
“But she is not conscious of of what I’m saying,” the sibling of the Greatest Footballer of All Time added.
Celeste Arantes gave birth to Pele in 1940 in Tres Coracoes, a city in south-eastern Brazil.
The onetime Vasco Da Gama striker who influenced a ceasefire during the Nigeria versus Biafra Civil War for 48 hours as his team played a game against Racah Rovers at the Sam Ahmedu Stadium, Kaduna was the oldest of three children, which included Zoca – who died in 2020 – and Maria Lucia.
The dotting mother was initially hostile to Pele’s reoslve to pursue a football career following his father’s lack of success in the sport and would scold him for sneaking out to play football.
She, however, later gave her blessing after persuasion.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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