THE sense of excitement among the 300 or so guests who arrived at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow city centre to attend “An Evening with Pele” back in the September of 2016 was palpable.
The opportunity to spend a few hours in the company of the legendary Brazilian footballer was an enticing one. Some diners had even paid as much as £900 so they could meet and have their photograph taken with the three-time World Cup winner.
For two of those who joined the crowd that night, Ude Adigwe and Geoff Ijomah, the event was particularly poignant and especially emotional. For the boyhood friends, he was far, far more than just a great sportsman whose achievements they admired. He was a black icon who had a profound impact on their lives.
