Brazilians paid their final respects to football great Pele with a 24-hour public wake at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, the home of his former football club, Santos in Sao Paulo yesterday.
The funeral procession carried Pele’s coffin through the streets of the city of Santos, including passing down the street where Pele’s 100-year-old mother, Celeste Arantes, lives.
Fireworks greeted the hearse carrying the coffin and the funeral procession continued to Pele’s final resting place, the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica Cemetery, where a private funeral was held for family members.
Inside Santos’ 16,000-seater stadium, several large banners had been placed throughout the stands, with one reading ‘long live The King.’ People of all ages flocked to the stadium as the gates opened for the memorial and many people were wearing the iconic yellow jersey worn by Brazil’s football team and Santos FC jerseys.
It was a sombre occasion, and many fans were overcome with emotion, tears running down their faces as they made their way into the ground. The stadium’s public entrance was adorned with flower bouquets and the Santos FC flag was flown at half-mast. (C.D)
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