Bengaluru’s ‘mini Brazil’ bids farewell to Pele

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As three-time world cupwinning legend Pele died of natural causes, one may look at the fervent admirers of the footballing giant in the city.

The city’s Gauthampura, a locality near Halasuru bears a statue of Pele. Known as “Mini Brazil”, the area also houses its own Marcana Stadium, named after the football venue in Rio de Janeiro. Bengaluru’s Marcana, however, is a small ground flooded with light on all sides.

During World Cups and Copa Americas, it is lit with Brazilian yellow and blue. The locality had produced the likes of SA Basheer, who represented the country’s football team in the 1948 Olympics when India was one of the better Asian teams.