World Football and Brazilian legend, Pele, recently sent a customized Santos F.C jersey number 10 to Oba Iba Gani Abiodun Adams, the 15th Aare of Onakakanfo of Yoruba land.
The customized jersey was presented to the Monarch by Mr. Max Pedro of Pele’s former club Santos F.C during their courtesy visit to the Palace of Aare Adams in Lagos, Nigeria yesterday.
Mr. Pedro, while presenting the gift, thanked Aare Gani Adams for the role he played towards supporting their visit to Nigeria and further added that their visit, which is aimed at addressing issues affecting racism in football and sports generally, is a global issue affecting the development of football.
“We have seen situations where a black player is thrown a banana while playing football on the pitch ”, Pedro said. “ That is not good at all”.
“We hope to use this medium to tell the world that Santos F.C does not support racism”, and we will do our best to continue the fight against it.
While receiving the gift, Aare Gani Adams thanked them for their visit, and also assured them that their quest to fight against racism, which the World governing football body has always kicked against, is a very good one.
Aare Gani Adams further hinted to the delegation that there has been a long-term relationship that existed between the Yoruba community and Brazil and thanked them for paying him homage on their tour to Nigeria.
He reminded them that their intention to also pay the Ooni of Ife a visit during their tour was a very significant one, as Ile Ife is the cradle of Yoruba land and their visit to Nigeria would be incomplete without honouring him.
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