East African country which shares boarders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda has named a newly built football stadium after iconic Brazilian footballer, Edson Arantes do Nascimento known globally as Pelé.
“The Kigali Pele Stadium” was inaugurated yesterday when president of the International football governing body, Gianni Infantino and other delegates met in Rwanda for the FIFA 73rd congress.
According to president of the popular African country with a little over thirteen million citizens, Paul Kagame, the iconic footballer born on October 23,1940 and died few months ago deserves even more than this acknowledgments because he brought the whole world together, inspired and will forever many generations.
“Pelé brought the whole world together, a man from humble beginnings who rose to the level of excellence. That is an inspiration to many in the world with such backgrounds. That gives them hope that they can do things that bring them to the same level.” President Kagame.
This decision by Paul Kagame who is described as one of the greatest presidents on the continent was partly influenced by Gianni Infantino’s request that, every country should at least name a stadium after the man he describes as an ‘exemplary sportsman’
At the inauguration of the stadium, President Kagame expressed excitement for an opportunity to honor Pele with this beautiful infrastructure.
“This is a beautiful stadium. Now named after Pele, one of the greatest of the world, as president Kagame said, son of Africa who brought football all over the world and the citizens of the world. It’s a great emotion. Pele left us but he is always with us,” he said.