Pele hires his son as coach

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-01-17 08:43

Soccer legend Pele hired his son, the former goalkeeper Edinho, right now on probation, to be the coach of children team Litoral FC.

Edinho (Edson Chilbo do Nascimento) on Tuesday was quoted as saying by the "O Estado de Sao Pablo" newspaper that he will work with his father's team while he awaits his trial on links with drug-traffickers and money laundering.

The former player was invited by the Santos team coach, Vanderley Luxemburgo, to participate in the team's technical commission. Edinho was the team's goalkeeper in the 90s.

Pele is trying to help his son reintegrate himself into society and to overcome his drug addiction after spending almost one year in jail. He said he asked Edinho to talk to the young players of the Litoral about his prison experience and about how much he suffered so that he can become an example.

Edinho was arrested in June 2005 together with another 51 people in an operation against a drug band. His lawyers said from the beginning that he uses drugs and that his links with drug-traffickers were limited to buying drugs from them.

Pele's son was arrested again last February on charges of money laundering.

In December the highest court in the country allowed Edinho, through a "habeas corpus", to await trial on probation.



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