Due to busy schedule uncertainty looms large over Pele's visit to Eden Gardens

He arrived at the Netaji Subhash Candra Bose International airport on sharp 8.30 on Sunday morning.

After a span of 38 years, it would have been expected that the coming of legend, King Pele would create a fanfare in Kolkata. But it was not that as it was expected. Still, a few hundreds of football lovers thronged at the airport to watch the 74-year old Brazilian legendary footballer. But at the same time the enthusiastic people in the city did not get much opportunity to watch king as he was escorted by a bullet-proof car from the tarmac.

Only, while leaving the airport for his scheduled hotel in the city Pele came out of the car for a couple of minutes and waved hands towards the exciting crowd and was welcomed by Indian Olympian Chuni Goswami, former Indian striker Dipendu Biswas and state ministers.

 

Pele, who will watch the Athletico De Kolkata’s home-match against Kerala Blasters on 13^th October at the Salt Lake Stadium, will have a tremendous busy schedule for the next two days in the city.

He will attend his felicitate functions to be held on Monday at Netaji Indoor Stadium where all the former Mohun Bagan footballers who played against Pele in the friendly match between Mohun Bagan and New York Cosmos in 1977.

But there is unfortunate news for both Pele as well as well for the football lovers that Pele’s visit to Eden Gardens where he played his first and last match in 1977 looks uncertain amidst the huge busy schedule. It has been learnt that Pele will not get time to visit Eden Gardens during his three-day stay in Kolkata.