[August Visitor] Pele’s Coming Excite Youths, Sport Personalities and Business Moguls in Nigeria

Football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pele is due in Lagos August 10, to participate in a series of youth football development-related events that will culminate in a dinner with top corporate executives and football aficionados on August 13.

The Winihin Jemide Series (WJS), along with Youth Experience Days Africa(YEDA), will be facilitating the visit of the world greatest footballer ever to the world’s most populous black nation.

According to Chidima Okebalama, Project Director WJS, Pele is also expected to visit Ghana after the Nigeria leg, which will last till August 12. 

 The 2-day event that will bring the legend to Nigeria is tagged The WJS/YEDA LEGEND EDITION 2016.

Okebalama told reporters in Lagos a the weekend that the program which begins on August 11 will see youths of between ages 13 and 18 engaged in a Street tournament. “They will be camped and trained in the City of David Football Academy.

The event will involve football loving teenagers and parents, key figures from various State government, the corporate sector and the Nigerian Football Association (NFA). This event will include; a sports clinic (Legend tournament), a Gala Night with Pele and other African football legends; including an auction of Pele memorabilia at the Gala night.

Proceeds from the auction will be donated to an eligible local youth football academy.

“The program will start with the YEDA Corporate tournament for the Legend Cup and the YEDA Street tournament with the final of both competitions coming up on the 11th.

” She said the winner will take home a giant trophy which will be presented by the legend, Pele.

Femi Odewunmi, CEO Ink Business Design, one of the organizations involved in the organization of Pele’s visit informed that the Brazilian legend informed that the program will culminate in what they termed as Pele Masterclass on August 12 where the legend will sit with corporate executives, top football personalities and government officials in a closed door session.

The legend will avail the participants with the opportunity to ask questions and get answers in various aspects of life, particularly in leadership skills. 

This will be Pele’s second visit to Nigeria; the first in 1967, was occasioned by a 2-day cease fire during the Nigerian Civil War which allowed the warring sides to watch the Pele & Santos FC team play an exhibition match in Lagos.