Pelé's historic Slovakia visit marked 32 years

Thirty-two years after the historic visit of Brazilian football legend Pelé to Slovakia, his former manager and advisor, Joe Borbély, has shared new insights into the event. The visit took place on September 17, 1994, when Pelé traveled with a group of Brazilian football legends to cities including Lučenec, Košice, and Prešov.

During the visit, Pelé was received by the President of Slovakia, Michal Kováč. A major highlight was an exhibition match in Košice between Slovak and Brazilian legends, which the Brazilian team won 4-0. Pelé performed a ceremonial kickoff and signed several footballs for fans.

Reflecting on the event three decades later, Borbély noted that while the visit was a success, it brought him significant professional and personal difficulties in Slovakia. He recalled a conversation where Pelé warned him that being associated with such a high-profile figure would bring many envious people into his life, a prediction Borbély feels was accurate.