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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sid Lowe in Doha

Brazil assistant coach César Sampaio asks people to pray for Pelé

Fans of Santos – the only club Pelé played for in Brazil – outside his hospital in São Paulo
Fans of Santos – the only club Pelé played for in Brazil – outside his hospital in São Paulo. Photograph: Marcelo Chello/AP

Brazil’s assistant coach César Sampaio has asked people to pray for Pelé, with the 82-year-old three-time World Cup winner in hospital with cancer. Sampaio, who described himself as “blessed” to have been able to play with Pelé, said: “Something you can all do, regardless of your religion, is please say a prayer, do whatever you do and send positive vibes.”

The head coach, Tite, said: “He is the only person I ever met who had me shaking when I met him. I speak from the bottom of my heart, this is an emotional moment for me: I remember it was 2018, there were all these historic people and I didn’t notice.

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