Local football pays tribute to Pele

Dark clouds of grief have covered the Bangladesh football fraternity following the death of megastar footballer Pele, and the country's former and current booters expressed their deepest condolence over the loss of such a colossal figure.

Pele is mostly known as the 'Kalo Manik [Black Pearl]' among the Bangladeshi generation following the country's independence in 1971, courtesy of a chapter in primary level text book featuring the achievements of the Brazilian, who remained in a league of his own as the lone footballer to have won three FIFA World Cup trophies.

Kazi Salahuddin, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president and a football icon in the country, was left heartbroken upon knowing that Pele passed away on Thursday.

"I felt really very sad when I heard the news last night (Thursday). We did know Pele's condition was not good and anything can happen, but I believed that he won't go so soon," said Salahuddin.

Labelled as 'the greatest' by FIFA, Pele shares the one-off FIFA Player of the Century award with Diego Maradona, whom the BFF president recalled as he mourned for Pele.

"At the same time, I remembered the demise of Maradona. The world within just a couple of years had lost two top footballers, who elevated football to this level," said Salahuddin, who had watched Pele in VHS tapes after the 1970 World Cup.

"Of course, Pele had an impact on me because I had grown up as a footballer watching great footballers like Pele, Johan Cruyff, Bobby Charlton, George Best. Every footballer had wished to imitate them, and footballlers developed themselves in such way for decades."

Former national forward Sheikh Mohammad Aslam however had an opportunity to watch Pele play World Cup in 1970 live on TV while he was then a grade-three student in Khulna.

"I was really enthralled with his dribbling ability that put a number of players behind him. From that time, I believed football is a game of art, and I grew up with that belief inspired by Pele," said Aslam.

For millions of fans of the game around the globe, Pele was the first person to have made football Jogo Bonito, "the beautiful game". He was the player of number 10, a number sported by the likes of Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbapp. The genius played the game with such passion and was so unstoppable that fouling him was the only option.

Bangladesh national team's captain Jamal Bhuiyan and his colleagues also paid their tributes for Pele, who had been suffering from Colon cancer.

"Rest in Peace. Pelé the only footballer who has won the World Cup trophy  thrice. One of the greatest footballers of all time, you will be remembered forever," Jamal posted on his facebook page.

National goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico wrote, "Pele was more than a footballer. He was the icon of the game. Good bye, King of football."

Mentioning Pele's wish to play with Maradona in the heavens one day, national defender Tapu Barman wrote, "Enjoy your game, legends."