All the great clubs in world soccer history have built their career on a major securities outstanding or campaigns. But Santos FC, more over, has almost magical in its 99 years certainly made a unique: Stop a war.
Magic moment for history . Click and read more
The feat came 42 years ago, on February 4, 1969, during a trip to Africa, when a match between Santos and Selection in the Central West of Nigeria in Benin. The game was not on the original itinerary of the trip, because I fear that local militants had happened hostile demonstrations on the day of departure because of the clashes that occurred between Nigerian and East African separatists who wanted to create a country with the name of Biafra . Still, the match went ahead. But for that, as reported at the time of Gilberto Marques Beaver, sent a reporter from the newspaper "Tribuna", Santos, for the tour, when players from Santos Fc reached the Nigerian city was declared a public holiday in the afternoon of that day by then governor of the Nigerian region, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Ogbemudia. The same also authorized the bridge over the river that connected the city of Benin Sapele had released the transition for everyone, without distinction, could watch the game. "It was strange because it was the country divided and at war. But from the moment they knew they'd have the game, that party was forgotten. It was a small field, I remember very well. "said the legendary player Lima
Santos won the friendly match by 2-1 with goals from Edu and Negreiros. The squad : Gilmar (Laércio); Turcão, Ramos Delgado, Joel Camargo and Rildo (Oberdã), Lima and Negreiros (Marçal), Mané Maria, Toninho Guerreiro ( Douglas), Pelé (Amauri) and Edu (Abel).
Tour
On this trip to Africa, Santos FC played nine matches with five wins, three draws and one defeat. The team scored 19 goals and conceded 11.Os scorers were: Pele (8 goals), Toninho Guerreiro (5), Douglas and Mané Maria (2), Edu and Lima (1).
Check out the list of matches:
January 17, 1969- 3 X 0 Santos FC Selection of Point Noire Point Noire
January 19 , 1969 - Santos FC 3 X 2 Selection of Congo Brazzaville
January 21 , 1969 - 2 X 0 Santos FC squad "B" in Congo Kinshasa
January 23 , 1969 - Santos FC 2 X 3 Selection "A" Congo Kinshasa
January , 26, 1969 - Santos FC 2 X 2 Selection Nigeria - Lagos Eagle Greens
February 1, 1969 - 2 X 0 Santos FC Lourenco Marques Mozambique
February 4, 1969 - Santos FC 2 X 1 Selection of the Midwest Benin
February 6, 1969 - Santos FC 2 X 2 Selection Accra (Hearts of Oak) Accra
February 9, 1969 - Santos FC 1 X 1 Selection of Algeria Oran
About the war
The civil war began in 1967 and ended in January 1970 with the death of over a million civilians, decimated by hunger and fighting.
Players about the moment
Credits : Center for Memory and Statistical Santos FC
I am interested in the tour itinerary and wonder if you can help? My father who has just recently died is reputed to have played in a rugby union match ahead of a football match in which Pele was the coach. I am therefore assuming it was a Santos FC match that followed a rugby match. I am trying to find out more details. My father played for a Nigerian XV on the wing and kicked a number of goals (from the touch line). Pele afterwards remarked he wished he could get his wingers to cross a ball like that! This is a story my father told once or twice and I have no reason not to believe him, I am just curious where and when the match was. Can anyone help? Matt
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