Pele cuts a forlorn figure drowning in depression

Those of the gold and black persuasion among us have been going gaga about the celebration of their golden jubilee.

The Kaizer Chiefs crowd are crazy about their 50th anniversary.

And they have reason to believe that this is the season that will banish the barren spell and birth them a league and cup double.

Good luck and God bless. The year 2020 marks an epochal moment for millions somewhere in South America.

In Brazil, on the soil of the Seleçäo, their senior national soccer team, who are five- time Fifa World Cup champions, marked the 50th anniversary of their 1970 triumph.

The celebrations kicked off at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Thursday.

Many events are planned for this commemoration. But on Thursday, a life-size statue of Pele, decked out in a replica outfit of the bright yellow and blue colours the 1970 squad wore en route to claiming the country's third World Cup crown in Mexico, will be unveiled.

That team, as tales told by my late grandfather, Batho, go, was a congregation of class par excellence, going on a seven-match unbeaten run.

It was full to the brim with crafty talent like Rivellino, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, Clodoaldo, Tostão, Gèrson, Pele and coached by Mário Zagallo.

After downing Czechoslovakia (4-1), England (1-0) and Romania 3-2 to top the group, the Seleçäo slalomed past Peru (4-2), and Uruguay (3-1) before a 4-1 annihilation of Italy in the final.

World Soccer magazine described them as "more than a team", adding: "The Brazilian side that won the 1970 World Cup in such style have become a myth, a team to be held up as the ultimate exponents of the beautiful game".

A team of that stature, is perhaps in the eyes of our generation, rivalled by the Spanish team of 2008, 10, 12 in terms of fluency, poetry and potency.

On Thursday, Pele, believed by many of my grandfather's generation to have been arguably the beacon of jogo bonito - Portuguese for play beautifully - was missing in action.

No, the icon didn't boycott the shindig at the CBF museum. His legs can't carry him. Nowadays, Pele cuts a forlorn figure drowning in depression in his home.

Poor health has contributed to the 79-year-old being unable to walk unaided owing to complications linked to his recovery from hip surgery

Poor health has contributed to the 79-year-old being unable to walk unaided owing to complications linked to his recovery from hip surgery

His legend propelled him to an international public profile during and after his playing days.

He earned many an endorsement deal, not excluding being the face of the little blue pill professed to posses the magic powers to raise matters around the pelvic area.

Learning about Pele being incapacitated is disheartening.

His stature, hands on waist and face beaming with a wall-to-wall smile, appears to have more life than the almost immobile mam who needed a wheelchair and a walking frame to fulfil his recent public commitments.

"Imagine, he is the king, he was always such an imposing figure, and today he can no longer walk properly," said son Edinho. Long live Pele.

Twitter: @bbkunplugged99