Page 31 - Que Nem Pelé EN ONLY MasterMarch4th23 (1)_Neat

the ground, writhing in agony; he cradles his head

in his hands.

The substitute number ten is told to warm up

immediately and without warning Zelé is pushed to

the side line. The Official is holding his number

high on the electronic board for all to see.

Heart pounding like never before Zé starts to think

clearly. ‘It is now I must prove how good I am’ he

says to himself. ‘All the training, the fitness, the

practicing. This is for real’.

“We believe in you kid” he heard the coach say and

felt the pat on the back or was it a push?

The stretcher carries the injured player off and the

line judge waves Zelé on to replace the injured

Marcello.

And suddenly Zelé was on: playing for Brazil.

Alongside the greatest players in the world. He

never even heard the crowd roar. His concentration

kicked in and he took-up his pre-planned position.

**Progress and Order are written on the Brazilian national

flag.

30