Senator Orengo praises Brazil for renaming Maracana Stadium after Pele

- Senator Orengo lauded the move saying it was a great honour of the greatest footballer ever to step on planet earth

- The 80-year-old Pelé is a former Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward

- He remains among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century

- Maracana Stadium was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil lost to Uruguay 2-1

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Siaya senator James Orengo has hailed a Brazilian legislature following the move to name the country’s famous stadium after soccer legend, Pele.

On Tuesday, March 9, the Rio de Janeiro state legislature voted to change Maracana Stadium from its official title to the Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Rei Pele Stadium.

The move caught the attention of Orengo who lauded the legislature terming the development, an excellent decision in honour of Pele.

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“Excellent and appropriate decision in honour of the football legend and Brazilian star. Arguably, pound for pound, the greatest footballer ever to step on planet earth,” said Senator Orengo.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé is a former Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.

The 80-year-old played at the Maracana Stadium many times for Brazil and scored his 1,000th goal there in 1969 – for Santos against local club Vasco da Gama.

The stadium is part of a complex that includes an arena known by the name of Maracanãzinho, which means "The Little Maracanã" in Portuguese.

Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State government, the stadium is now managed by the clubs Flamengo and Fluminense, respectively.

It is located in the Maracanã neighbourhood, named after the Rio Maracanã, a now canalized river in Rio de Janeiro.

The stadium was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil was beaten, 2–1, by Uruguay in the deciding game, in front of 199,854 spectators on Sunday, July 16, 1950.

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The venue has seen attendances of 150,000 or more on 26 occasions, the last being on 29 May 1983, as 155,253 spectators watched Flamengo beat Santos, 3–0.

Pele was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century.

During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the best-paid athlete in the world.

He began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national team at 16.

During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player to do so.

Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games.

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