Pele was reason behind ‘ceasefire’ of war but gunfire resumed when he flew away
Pele transcended the world of football – so much so that he once brought a ceasefire to a war.
The Brazilian icon, who passed away on Thursday (December 29) aged 82, was part of a Santos team that toured the world in the mid to late 1960s as the club cashed in on their prized asset. He and the rest of the Santasticos embarked on trips to the US, Europe and Africa.
And despite Nigeria being embroiled in bloody civil war with secessionist state Biafra in 1969, Pele and his team-mates travelled there to play an exhibition match which saw both sides pause the conflict to watch the great man in action.
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Santos drew 2-2 with the Super Eagles, with, of course, Pele scoring both of their goals and receiving a standing ovation. But as soon as they left the fighting continued, with gunshots heard from their plane as they took off.
Reflecting on the moment in October 2020, he tweeted: "One of my greatest pride was to have stopped a war in Nigeria, in 1969, in one the many football tours that Santos made around the world.
"We were asked to play a friendly match on Benin City, in the middle of a civil war, but Santos was so beloved that they agreed on a ceasefire on the matchday. It became known as the day that 'Santos stopped the war'."
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Pele's family even alluded to it in their official statement in the wake of his death after a 15-month battle with colon cancer. They said: "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today.
"On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever."
While Santos' squad escaped unscathed from the civil war, Pele was nearly caught in a sticky situation when he returned to Nigeria seven years later.
He'd visited Lagos for a trip sponsored by Pepsi, during which time a faction of armed soldiers attempted to overthrow the government.
Pele was forced to head to the Brazilian embassy and hide for a brief period, before disguising himself as a pilot to get on a flight back to America where he was playing for the New York Cosmos.
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