Petition against “Pelé National Stadium” exceeds 1,000 signatures

The online petition, launched by a civil society group called Voz do Povo, has already surpassed 1,000 signatures. The initiative rebels against the Government's decision to assign the name of the former Brazilian player, Pelé, to the National Stadium, in Monte Vaca.

The petition comes after the Prime Minister announced, on social networks, that he proposed to FIFA the attribution of the name of the player Edson Arantes Nascimento “Pelé” to the National Stadium of Cape Verde.

For the promoters, Ulisses Correia e Silva wants nothing more than “to gain international visibility at any cost and in a way that goes beyond the will of those he represents”.

FIFA to finance new stadium to bear Pelé's name

The same argues that FIFA should finance a new stadium to baptize with the name of Pelé, recognizing the “greatness” of the icon of Brazilian and world football.

“If this (PM) wants Cape Verde to be internationally visible, let it be on the merit of our own things and good governance, not for emotional and immature acts”, he concluded.

FIFA thanks Cape Verde

It should be recalled that Cape Verde, represented by its prime minister, was the first country to express its intention to associate Pelé's name with a football stadium and the only one so far to dare to name its only national stadium.

Following the announcement, made by Ulisses Correia e Silva, on Wednesday, the FIFA president also went public, through his Instagram account, to thank Cape Verde, its Prime Minister and the Cape Verdean Federation of football.

However, as was clear from the FCF president's statements, he only found out about the government's decision through social media, as did the other Cape Verdeans.