Brazilian football legend Pele on Tuesday lived every moment of the riveting Indian Super League (ISL) tie between hosts Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters that he witnessed for around 50 minutes.
The Black Pearl appreciated the good moves, expressed his dismay at the misses, and once even held his head in frustration as ATK’s Spanish medio Gavilan Martinez hit the woodwork.
When Arata Izumi scored for the home side, Pele was seen giving a high-five to ATK co-owner Sanjiv Goenka.
Earlier, the king of football entered the Salt Lake stadium to a thundering applause from the 55,000-odd crowd at around 6.45 p.m – 15 minutes before the start of the match.
Received by Football Sports Development Ltd. chairperson Nita Ambani, who seemed elated at the opportunity to watch the game besides him, Pele seemed in high spirits.
He waved to the crowd and even posed for photographs with the Atletico players.
He chatted with Ambani and Goenka, and was all smiles when the latter gifted him an Atletico scarf.
Speaking about meeting the legend, Ambani said: “It is a dream come true sitting beside the legend and watching the game.”
She also had a chance of clicking a selfie with the legend, who was clad in a light-blue shirt.
Pele left the stadium five minutes after halftime.
(IANS)