Team India to pay tribute to Pelé at Eden Gardens

This will happen during the 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. CAB will be showing footage of the “Black Pearl” on giant screens.

Team India to pay tribute to Pelé at Eden Gardens

Pelé

As per reports, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is set to pay tribute to legendary footballer player Pelé. This will happen during the 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. CAB will be showing footage of the “Black Pearl” on giant screens. He died on December 30, 2022, after a long battle with cancer.

The Eden Gardens always gets packed with crowds during cricket matches. But back in 1977, it was filled to the rafters because of one man, Pelé. Towards the end of his career, he used to travel across the world to promote football through exhibition matches and this match against Mohun Bagan was one of them.

He had come to Kolkata to play for New York Cosmos Club against Mohun Bagan on September 24, 1977. Pelé was past his prime; he was 38 at that time. He did not score a goal though; the match had ended in a draw (2-2).

“Lakhs of people gathered outside the Dum Dum Airport to greet the Brazilian legend. There were also teeming crowds outside his hotel in central Kolkata, waiting to catch a glimpse of the only man who had won three World Cups for his team,” football historian Novy Kapadia recounted the event in his book, ‘Barefoot to Boots’.

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Pelé visited India twice

Pelé
Pelé

It’s worth noting that the match against Mohun Bagan was also his penultimate match as a professional player. A few days later, he retired from all forms of football.

It wasn’t the only time that Pelé had visited India. His second visit was in 2015. He first landed in New Delhi and then flew to Kolkata. He even watched the Subroto Cup U-17 final in Delhi.

Preparation in Kolkata to play Pele a tribute is underway. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the surviving member of the Mohun Bagan club have also been invited to the stadium.

Meanwhile, India won the first ODI by 67 runs with the help of Virat Kohli’s 73rd international and 45th ODI ton. They are leading the three-match series by 1-0.

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