The oceanside residence of the workforce nicknamed “Peixe” — “fish” in Portuguese — is anticipating an enormous inflow of followers seeking to honour the “King” of soccer, who died aged 82 on Thursday after an extended battle with most cancers.

Pelé’s wake begins at 10 am however followers of Pele have already began to reach on the entrance of the Vila Belmiro stadium, in Santos to bid adieu to the soccer star.

36 years outdated, Saulo Duarte Soares got here by bus to Santos. First in line, he arrived on Saturday, spent New Year’s Eve on the seashore and slept in entrance of Vila Belmiro, the place he intends to remain till the gates open.

Fãs de Pelé, primeiros na fila para o velório viajaram para se despedir do jogador.

Três admiradores do Rei do Futebol já estavam na frente da Vila Belmiro na tarde deste domingo (1º).

🎥: @SamPancher pic.twitter.com/Kb3UKcAeP7

— Metrópoles (@Metropoles) January 1, 2023

The second to reach is 58 years outdated Emílio Carmo de Lima, who was thrilled about the one time he noticed Pelé play in loco. “I saw Pelé at the stadium once, towards the end of his career, Santos and Palmeiras at Parque Antártica. 1 to 1. Goal by him and Ademir da Guia”.

Nearly 20 hours previous to the beginning of the wake, the So Paulo-based painter joined the road this Sunday afternoon. “I’m going to sleep here, I brought bread, mortadella. The neighbour gave me this stool. So I’m staying right here. I just don’t know when I’m going to leave.”

For three days, retired Antônio da Paz, 69, camped out in entrance of the Albert Einstein Medical Center, the place Pelé handed away on Thursday afternoon. Soon after that, Seu Antônio arrived in Santos.

“Pelé played with the ball. It looked like it was the ball running after Pelé. I still remember when he scored his thousandth goal, at Maracanã. I heard it on the radio. So for all that, it’s worth it for us to be here”, he instructed the media.

On Sunday evening, a lot of vacationers and journalists, together with foreigners, go to the world round Vila Belmiro along with the king’s supporters. According to Santos Futebol Clube, round 8,000 press professionals had been accredited to cowl the wake.

The ceremony might be held immediately on the residence of his former membership, Santos. The physique will then proceed in procession by means of town streets to the Ecumenical Necropolis Memorial, the place the king might be laid to relaxation in a mausoleum.