A reception was held for the world renowned Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nacimento, better known as King Pele, on Saturday evening at the Princess International Hotel, Providence. Both Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony, hailed the footballer’s visit as bringing Guyana and Brazil closer together.

“Our relationship with Brazil is getting stronger and our continental destiny is being established,” Minister Anthony stated, while the Prime Minister said that Pele’s visit is an additional opportunity to bring the two South American neighbours closer together.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and his wife, Yvonne Hinds, share a light moment with the world renowned Brazilian footballer, Edson Arantes do Nacimento, better known as Pele, during a reception for the latter at the Princess International Hotel, Providence.

The Prime Minister noted the recent completion of the Takutu Bridge that provides a land link between the two countries as an indication that Guyana views itself as part of South America and is pursuing its continental destiny.

He hailed Pele’s career as a Brazilian footballer that saw him led his team to three World Cup wins, and for his humanitarian works, and told the hundreds of Guyanese that were present at the reception that he was impressed by the Brazilian’s personality during a visit earlier in the day.

Prime Minister Hinds further stated that he looks forward to greater bonds between Guyana and Brazil in the area of sports, noting that work is already ongoing in other areas including infrastructure and hydro-power.

Minister Anthony noted that “King” Pele’s visit to Guyana was a collaborative effort, led by Government and its counterpart in Brazil, ably assisted by the Television Globo group in Brazil and the Kashif and Shanghai organisation in Guyana.

“Where we work as a team, no dream is beyond us,” the Minister stressed.

In brief remarks, Pele explained that he has been overwhelmed by the love of the people of Guyana for him and told the Prime Minister, who had offered him an honorary Guyanese citizenship, that there was no need since he was a Guyanese at heart already.(GINA)