The Qatar Cup and King Pelé

In 1971, the great businessman from Caxiense inaugurated his company “A Silva Industria e Comercio de Oleos Vegetais S/A”, an enterprise belonging to the business group “A Silva” of the visionary Alderico Jefferson da Silva. The company played a big role in Brazilian society, from Caxias, Maranhão, Brazil and the rest of the world. Possessing one of the most active platforms in the competitive market, the company refining vegetable oils with babassu almond oil, babassu cake and bran, manufacturing margarine (butter) and manufacturing soaps. Located in the neighborhood that became known as Refinaria on Avenida Central in Caxias (MA), it became known in the city because of its whistles during rush hour by housewives and shopkeepers.

In that year and month of 1971, a car went by on Rua Professora Ana Correa, warning that the city of Caxias would receive the "Triple Brazilian Football Champion" King Pelé and the great Rivelino and at night the voice of singer Clara Nunes on the occasion of the inauguration of Industria A Silva as it is known.

I warned my father about the coming of King Pelé and Rivelino to Caxias, and that he should take me to see Pelé and Rivelino, the three-time champion of the 1970 World Cup. My father signaled to me that he would take me that day. Bearing in mind that we don't have a television and my father Romildo Costa used to get together with other neighbors to watch the 70's Cup in Teresina, in Praça Saraiva.

My mother Elzi, me, my brothers and neighbors listened to the 1970 World Cup game on Rádio Canarinho. And, on the appointed day, at 2 pm, my father took me to see King Pelé and Rivelino. We stayed at the company's wire fence, waiting for the stars to perform. Opportunity in which the gates were opened, we entered. And, Suddenly, the great Brazilian left-hander, Rivelino, was introduced, dressed in the yellow shirt, blue shorts, socks and cleats with a smile and a mustache. Holding the microphone, he said that Pelé did not come because of his busy schedule, but that the people of Caxias would not stay without being the Tricampeão.

I was sad and very angry with the news about Pelé, it is true that Rivelino represented the Selection and that night the singer did her show.

One day, turning on the Canarinho radio, after a play, Pelé took off his shirt and ran an Olympic run on the track. The radio host said:

-Pelé is crying and wiping his tears on shirt number 10. The crowd goes crazy asking Pelé to stay. Our star player will leave us.

At that moment, I cried a lot for Pelé's departure from the pitch, soon a sadness took over my situation. And my mother asked me.

-Erasmus, who hit you?

I said, still crying.

-It wasn't anyone, mother. It's just that Pelé will no longer play ball for Brazil or any other team.

-Stop crying he's not even there for you. Doesn't even know you and you being a crying beast. Stop.

-It may be nonsense, but my king will no longer play ball. The number 10 shirt is gone, we won't see it anymore.

In 1974, I entered my name in the Poetry Contest by the Diocesan College. In fact, I always said that my poetry was the best, even though I struggled with the 3rd year students. In the result of indignation, Erasmo took 3rd place, which caused great confusion between the author and the 3rd year students.

At night I dreamed of King Pele coming to my house. Despite the fact that I had written a letter to King Pelé narrating all the facts and my dissatisfaction with the result. However, I didn't put it in the post office because I didn't have the address and I kept the letter under my bed.

In that dream, King Pelé got out of the car on Rua Professora Ana Correia, and went up the mud slope and red grass of Rua Bom Jesus dos Passos, 351, in Caxias (MA) and asked the neighbors where the boy poet Erasmo lived. Ahead, the neighbors reported.

Upon arriving at my residence, King Pelé told my mother that he would like to talk to Erasmo. My mother shouted to the neighbors that King Pelé was in her house. The whole neighborhood ran to the street, waiting for the Tricampeão to leave. Without delay, my mother said that her son Erasmo was not in good health, being in bed. Pelé asked to visit anyway, and she recommended that the mattress was made of straw and that he did not repair it.

-Hello poet Erasmus. I am your King Pele. Do you still remember me?

My eyes filled with tears of joy to see by my side, the king of Brazilian football who was hugging me.

-Yea. I know who you are. I hear your name on the radio all the time. It's Edson Arantes do Nascimento, King Pelé, the three-time champion of the world. And I cried a lot when you said goodbye to football so early, leaving the lawns.

-Yea. It's true, but I had already taken this position before and I couldn't go back. But the matter here is another. I'll leave you a Brazilian National Team number 10 shirt, shorts, cleats and socks for you to keep as signed souvenirs. And a check to buy a box-spring mattress, a refrigerator, and a television. It's just a Christmas present from your King Pele. Don't worry about the result of the contest. You will be a great Brazilian poet and writer, believe in my words. And your lyrics will fly around the world in multiple languages.

-Thank you, I believe, my King Pele.

-So, my festive hug to all of the family, because my time is too small to solve so many things.

And so, the young Edson Arantes do Nascimento left for São Paulo, leaving Brazilians with the dream of bathing in democracy the years in which he defended Brazil with the number 10 shirt. of world football, cheering Brazilians in the stands and the world.

Notably, Qatar put on a great performance by King Pelé at the 2022 World Cup, which turned the world upside down.

Our king Pelé has been hospitalized since Wednesday (30) at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in São Paulo. With all efforts, the three-time champion was honored last night, in Qatar, with drones and a light show. In the vicinity of the Lusail stadium, where the final of the competition will be held, the large Torre Aspire displayed an image of King Pelé in the green and yellow jersey 10. On the promenade of Doha Bay, at night, dozens of drones projected the number 10 shirt and the name Pelé into the skies.

However, the city of Doha, host of the 2022 World Cup, decorated several buildings with photos and messages in support of Pelé this Saturday, the 3rd. And then, on its official profile of King Pelé on Twitter, FIFA posted a message for the Brazilian.

-Get well soon, Pele.

The Brazilian fans started with a shout in honor of King Pelé, in addition to the shouts, two flags with a picture of the idol were behind Alisson's goal in the first half. In one of these banners, the image of Pelé in Qatar, and finally, at the end of the game Brazil 4 x South Korea 1, the Brazilian players displayed a large banner with a photo of the greatest former footballer of all time.