The South African Football Association (SAFA) is mourning following the death of legendary Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who passed away at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, after losing a battle with colon cancer on Thursday.
The former Brazil Minister of Sport, 82, had been receiving regular hospital treatment since a tumour was removed from his colon in September last year.
Pelé, who was regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, was admitted in hospital last month to re-evaluate his cancer treatment and later diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
“We are saddened by the passing of the icon. He was a supporter of African progress in football and supported the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010,” SAFA president Danny Jordaan said.
“He was here in South Africa during the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and supported us. We remember him not only as the greater footballer he was, but also as a great ambassador of the sport. We extend our deepest sympathies to his entire family, Brazil and the football family around the globe.”
The three-time World Cup winner was drafted into the Brazil national team when he was only 16 years old. He’s the only player to have won three World Cup trophies (1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico).
Between 1957 and 1971, the former Santos and New York Cosmos striker scored 77 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil. Overall, he scored 1279 goals in 1363 games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) named the Brazilian as its athlete of the century in 1999. A year later, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) voted him as the world player of the century.
