- Title: 'We are here for love,' Crowds bid soccer star Pele farewell in Santos
- Date: 3rd January 2023
- Summary: SANTOS, BRAZIL (JANUARY 3, 2023) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCK CARRYING BRAZILIAN SOCCER LEGEND PELE'S COFFIN DRIVING IN PROCESSION ON WAY TO CEMETERY PEOPLE ON MOTORBIKES BEHIND FIRE TRUCK PEOPLE IN STREET LOOKING ON AND FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHING ON THEIR MOBILE TELEPHONES (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PELE FAN, MARCELO CAVERNA, SAYING: "I do not know. I can't explain it yet. I'm still trying to get my head around this, actually. Because no matter how much we prepare, no matter that the king has been hospitalized before, we are never ready to experience this moment of farewell. We are not just saying goodbye to our king; we are saying goodbye to a genius, a legend of the Brazilian people." FANS STANDING ON PAVEMENT WITH DRUMS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PELE FAN, ALMEIDA CAMPOS, SAYING: "It's very emotional and something he deserved, for everything he did for Santos' history, a thousand goals. So, he deserves everything that is happening today in Santos. It's from Santos to the world. And we are here for love." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PELE FAN, DAVI, SAYING: "I'm here for Pelé's procession. I've never seen that in my entire life, the first time. I come from Sao Paulo. My father is the drumming director for Torcida Jovem (Santos fan group). We came here to see King Pele and his procession and the funeral." FIRE TRUCK CARRYING PELE'S COFFIN DRIVING IN PROCESSION ON WAY TO CEMETERY
- Embargoed: 17th January 2023 15:38
- Keywords: Brazil Pele fans funeral soccer sports
- Location: SANTOS, BRAZIL
- City: SANTOS, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: South America / Central America,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001014603012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Brazilians lined the streets to bid farewell to soccer legend Pele on Tuesday (January 3) as a procession carrying his coffin passed through the streets of Santos, towards the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis cemetery, where he will be buried in a private ceremony.
The casket travelled on top of a white fire truck and was covered with a Brazil flag. Several police officers on motorbikes were seen escorting the procession.
"He deserves everything that is happening today in Santos... We are here for love," said Almeida Campos, who walked alongside the Pele procession with a group of drummers from Santos soccer club.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento - Pele's given name - was born in 1940 in the small country town of Tres Coracoes but moved to Santos in 1956 and lived there for most of his life.
Pele, a prolific goalscorer who won the World Cup an unprecedented three times as a player in 1958, 1962, and 1970, died aged 82 after a long battle with cancer.
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