“I wanted to be like Pele…” Kobe Bryant on Football Goat Pele
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Pele and Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players ever to step on a basketball court. But Black Mamba had a different ambition as he grew up trying to be like Pele who dominated the fields. Kobe loved the sport of Football and wanted it to grow in the United States of America too. He himself enjoyed the game and even thought about playing and making a career in it. But he was destined to play basketball.
Kobe Bryant used to think he was Pele while he was playing football. Black Mamba revealed this during an interview of his with ESPN. There he even spoke about his ambition to become a footballer and how things had him shift his energy toward Basketball.
When Kobe was asked about thinking of being like Pele, he excitedly replied: “Oh Yeah!” Further, when questioned about thinking to play football he agreed to it and handed out a detailed answer regarding him hooping and drilling buckets instead of shooting goals on the field.
Kobe Bryant said: “Absolutely, yeah! But then I wound up being 6 foot 3… Well, yeah I had more talent playing basketball than I did playing soccer. When I first started playing soccer they just stuck me in the goal. Because I had these really long arms and long legs. And, they just said: ‘Ok, kid just stop whatever ball comes your way!’ and that’s what I did.”
Kobe Bryant also mentioned that he was never close to being as good in soccer as he was in Basketball. But him thinking being like Pele while playing is something every kid who knows how great the Brazilian legend is has done. Kobe also had a jersey signed by Pele wishing him the best wishes for his career and that’s exactly how Mamba’s career turned out to be.
World reacts to the death of Pele
The sporting world has lost another all-time great legend with Pele’s demise at age 82. What Pele has done on and off the field is unachievable. He wasn’t just a footballing legend but also a true human being who was recognized for a lot of great things and has inspired millions of people around. Today, when he isn’t around fans, celebrities and sporting legends across the globe, are paying tribute to him. You can find some of them here below:
Pele was one of the finest stars to lace the shoes up and run the field. He won a record 3 World cups and ranks 5th in the All-Time World Cup goal Scorers list with 12 goals. Unfortunately, Pele was diagnosed with colon cancer and was going under treatment since 2021. So he was hospitalized last month at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital.
The reason behind his death is said to be multiple organ failure. And, a funeral is planned for Monday and Tuesday at the home of club team Santos. Legends like Kobe Bryant and Pele aren’t around us today but their impact, influence and legacies will live forever and make others’ lives better as the message goes on.
Also Read: Pelé dies at 82: Cricket fraternity mourns the loss of “eternal great”
Also Read: Brazilian legend Pele departs to leave football world in tears
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Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)