Cape Verde has become the first country to rename its national stadium in honor of world football icon Pele.
Earlier this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged member associations to rename a football facility in their respective nations in honor of the late Brazilian football legend Pele.
The three-time World Cup champion and first international soccer icon from Brazil passed away on December 29 at the age of 82.
The national stadium in Praia will be renamed “Pele Stadium”, according to the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Dr. UlissesCorreira e Silva, who made the announcement on social media.
The 15,000-seater “Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde,” erected in 2010 and opened in 2014, has been the home base of the “Blue Sharks,” as Cape Verde’s national team is referred to.
The Cape Verdean Prime Minister emphasized in his statement that the choice was a result of the shared historical ties his nation has with Brazil.
“As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as “Pelé Stadium”, in an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world,” the statement read.
It added, “Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.”
“And with the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pelé, born a Brazilian citizen, who soon became a planetary figure, an icon of the masses showing that sport has the power to unite the world, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him.”
“Pelé was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries, and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”
After Infantino’s statement on Monday, FIFA renamed the football pitch in its headquarters “Estadio Pele- FIFA Zurich.”
