AIRCRAFT TAXIES IN: PELE GREETED: PELE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS: MOTORCADE: PRESIDENTIAL PALACE: MEDICI SHAKES HANDS WITH PELE AND TALKING WITH HIM (SOF).




Initials KM/VS/MR/PS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRAZILIAN SOCCER STAR PELE, WHO SCORED HIS 1,000TH GOAL IN A MATCH IN RIO DE JANEIRO LAST WEEK AND SENT MILLIONS OF FANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DELIRIOUS WITH JOY, ATTENDED A RECEPTION IN HIS HONOUR IN BRAZILIA ON TUESDAY (25 NOVEMBER).

HE ARRIVED IN BRAZILIA IN THE PRESIDENT EMILIO MEDICI'S PRIVATE JET AND WAS WELCOMED BY THOUSANDS AT THE AIRPORT. HUGE CROWDS LINED THE MOTORCADE ROUTE TO GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS WHERE HE AUTOGRAPHED A FOOTBALL FOR THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

LATER HE WAS RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT MEDICI AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND THE TWO MEN SPENT SOME TIME TOGETHER.

PELE, WHO IS THE UNDISPUTED KING OF BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL, IS ALSO AN AMATEUR POET, COMPOSER, PAINTER AND ONE OF THE RICHEST MAN IN THE COUNTRY.

NOW 28 AND A PROFESSIONAL FOR 12 YEARS, HE COMES FROM A HUMBLE PEASANT BACKGROUND. HE WAS BORN IN TRES CORACOES (THREE HEARTS) REGION OF CENTRAL BRAZIL.

HE USED TO COLLECT PEANUTS WHICH FELL FROM FREIGHT TRAINS AND SELL THEM TO BUY JERSEYS FROM HIS BAREFOOT SOCCER TEAM IN BAURU.

NOW HIS FACE APPEARS ON A UNPRECEDENTED SPECIALLY-ISSUED BRAZILIAN POSTAGE STAMP WITH HIS ARM WAVING AFTER HAVING SCORED A GOAL.

IN SPITE OF HIS FAME HE REMAINS A SIMPLE MODEST MAN DEVOTED TO HIS WIFE, ROSEMARY, AND HIS DAUGHTER KELLY CHRISTINA.