SUPERSTAR PELE ROBBED AT GUNPOINT!

SAO PAULO, Brazil:

Soccer legend Pele was held at gunpoint by a band of youths who stole his gold necklace, mobile phone and a watch, local news media reported yesterday.

Pele was riding in the passenger seat of a car when it was stopped near a slum by at least 10 young men armed with pistols and knives, the report said. What an irony?.. 10 young man, his famous number 10 jersey haunts till today!!!

When the assailants approached his car, Pele rolled down the window and told them who he was, but they robbed him anyway, according to the report.

Armed gangs often set up makeshift roadblocks on Brazilian roads, halting traffic and robbing motorists. The robberies usually occur near slums, where the thieves can easily escape and hide from police.

Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, helped Brazil win three of its five World Cup titles. He was legally declared a national treasure by the Brazilian Government and in 1999 was voted Athlete of the Century by the world's national Olympic committees.

What can I say. Even a national treasure has no respect. When you are driven by hunger and poverty , everything else is secondary.

extract from the Australian.