World won’t forget Pele,’ Buhari mourns departed football legend

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, said the world will not forget the legacy and contributions of the departed Brazilian soccer legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pele, who died aged 82.

“Pele is gone but the world will never forget him. RIP,” read a statement signed by the President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, titled ‘President Buhari mourns soccer legend, Pele, says he will never be forgotten.’

Pele, 82, died amidst close friends and family members after suffering a debilitating bout of cancer.

He won three World Cups and scored over 1,281 goals, becoming the original football icon in a long career for which he was named the “Player of the Century” in the year 2000.

In a tribute to the football legend on behalf of all Nigerians, Buhari said, “May he rest in peace. He led a good life and made a huge contribution to the development of global football in particular and world sport in general.

“He had an enormous generosity of spirit and humility despite his greatness as a footballer and sportsman.

“He also built bridges across nations, races and even religions. He was a UN Ambassador of goodwill. Pele is gone but the world will never forget him. RIP”