Dubai – When football legend Pele arrives in Dubai, the first Malayali to look for is Malappuram Edarikode Puthuparamp native O.T. It’s Salaam. Pele is happy to be in the vehicle driven by Salam, the driver. Salam and Pele met in Dubai in 2014 when the World Cup was held in Brazil. Emirates appointed their VIP driver O.T. Salam. Emirates bought a new Mercedes S500 car for Pele to travel on that day.
Pele instructed the driver of the car. When I came to know that he was from Malappuram who dedicated his life to football, his love increased. When he had time, he showed Salam Pele the pictures of the football shrine in Malappuram. Later, he visited Dubai two more times. All the while, Pele insisted on having Salam as the driver. Pele was tired in the last meeting. When he left, he signed football and shool. Salam’s family is in the country. Wife: Umayban. Children: Rinshina, Anshina, Ishaan.
A love that started with newsreels
Former Postal Department team player Ahmed Kutty remembers the legend Machingal Pele…
It was in the 1960s that Pele emerged in world football. Back then there were less means of knowing about the game and the players. There will be news reels of up to 5 minutes before the start of the movie in theatres. Pele’s name and his picture are often seen in it. He used to reach the theater before the start of the movie just to listen to the sports news on the newsreel. Later, more is known about the star Pele through the publication Sports and Past Time and the sports column in newspapers. Before that, we hear about stars like Lev Yashin and Pushkas. However, everyone started to know Pele as the first superstar of the football world.
Although I did not have the opportunity to see it in person, I was able to take a picture with the life-like statue of Pele at Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York when I visited the United States. That image is still preserved today. Tributes to the legend..