ANDREW EKEJIUBA
The family of former Brazilian journalist, Mario Filho, has kicked against the proposal to rename the iconic Maracana stadium after the legendary Pele.
Although the arena is popularly called the Maracana Stadium, after the area in Rio de Janeiro where it is situated, its official name is Mario Filho Stadium, named after the journalist who had been a strong advocate for the construction of the arena that was believed to have the largest crowd capacity in the world.
Mário Filho died in 1966 at the age of 58 due to a heart attack, leaving behind his wife Célia whom he had met on the beach of Copacabana.
In his honor, the old Municipal Stadium, Maracana was named Journalist Mário Filho Stadium.
Rio State Legislature gave the green light this week as Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro is set to make a final decision on changing the name to “Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Rei Pelé.”
This would include the star’s given name and also his affectionate nickname “King Pelé.”
Built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup when over 200,000 attended the final match, it hosted matches in the 2014 World Cup and was also the setting for Brazil’s dramatic victory in the 2016 men’s Olympic football final and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games.
Filho’s grandson Mario Neto, complained that there had been no consultation before the decision to rename the stadium was taken.
“That news impacted me. I was upset. They don’t know anything about Mario Filho.
“There are deputies there who, if asked about who my grandfather was, would not know how to answer,” he questioned.
Pelé, who turned 80 last October, famously scored the 1000th goal of his career at the Maracana in 1969 whilst playing for his club side Santos and made his final appearance for Brazil in the same stadium 50 years ago.
Pelé’s former team mate Gerson had branded the name change “absurd” in comments on his YouTube channel.
“Why don’t people give his name to the Santos Stadium?” Gerson asked.
A stadium in Maceió, in the north eastern part of the country is already named “King Pelé” in tribute to Pelé’s final World Cup triumph in 1970.
If the Maracana’s change of name is approved, it will come only three months after a decision to rename the San Paolo Stadium in Napoli after the late Diego Amando Maradona.
