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Category Archives: Pelé Sports Fan Ambassadors

Pelé Introduced as a New Ambassador for P&G Brazil

With Roger Federer in Pelé´s beloved Brazil to participate in the Gillette Federer Tour, Gillette brought the world’s greatest tennis player in history together with the world’s greatest soccer player in history for a first time ever meeting – while also introducing Pelé as a new ambassador for P&G.

The meeting, which took place over the weekend at Pelé´s residence, involved an exchange of gifts from one another´s sport.  Pelé signed a shirt for Federer, the same one worn in Sweden when he won the 1958 World Cup.  Federer signed a tennis racquet, which he had been saving for the day when he would finally get to meet his idol. Together, they shared many laughs and stories as well as wishes to each other for good health.

Says Federer, a global brand ambassador for Gillette, “Meeting Pelé today was an absolute dream come true.  It was an honor to be introduced to the most important and most famous personality in world soccer.  Welcome Pelé to the P&G family, and I couldn´t imagine having a better partner!”

Adds Pelé, “It is such an honor to be a part of the P&G family, and to be welcomed by the best in tennis – Roger Federer.  I look forward to joining him and P&G’s other great champion athletes.  We will do many positive things together and commit ourselves to the development of sports in Brazil and worldwide.”

Excellence, innovation and superiority are the major attributes of P&G and its brands and are the same qualities that made Pelé the best player in the world.

In July 2012, the company celebrated 87% awareness of the P&G brand in Brazil – the best result in recognition among Brazilians in the history of the company in the country. Today, nine out of ten people know P&G.

The Pelé Sports Fan Ambassador Club – November 2012

Joe Curran is a sports fan, one that absolutely loves the beautiful game. Whether it is cheering on his local NPSL side or rooting for the big boys at Liverpool, he is always there to share his passion for soccer.

The 2010 World Cup was a turning point for him, one that turned him into a hardcore supporter.

“I fell in love with everything about it,” Curran commented. It was just the beginning as he would go on to support Mass United, the New England Revolution, and Liverpool FC. A diverse group to say the least.

Getting behind a 4th Division American soccer club is not always the most popular choice, but it certainly can be the most rewarding.

“We are on the ground floor of the grassroots movement,” Curran added. “I am doing everything I can to get people out to games.” Support for Mass United may be small in numbers, but not in spirit thanks to the Tubthump Army. A supporters’ group of Curran’s creation, the Tubthump Army got its name from a popular 1990s song. They sing, the yell, they write songs on the fly. They aim to be as boisterous as possible.

The group adds atmosphere to the stadium, showing their support for local players trying to make it to the next level. Club spirit and a sense of community are important facets of the group’s values. All of this organic support is fostered by an owner that is committed to fans, one that is always willing to listen to what supporters have to say.

“It’s nice to know that fans are appreciated,” Curran continued. That feeling isn’t always present with larger clubs in larger leagues. What you lose in the quality of play, you gain in a sense of belonging.

Also a fan of MLS, Curran is there for his local 1st Division side as well. The story of Clint Dempsey still inspires him and all Revs fans and rightfully so.

It’s a great story. A kid from Texas works his way through the American college system, excels in MLS, and makes it to the game’s biggest stage in England. His name is scattered in the transfer rumors of the summer, among the Van Persies of the world, and he eventually lands with Tottenham. This move kept his EPL dream alive, moving from Fulham to an even bigger club was priceless.

“It gives us hope and faith in American soccer,” Curran concluded. He hopes that soccer and MLS will propel into the popular sports realm alongside baseball, basketball, and American football.

Curran is excited about the future of the sport, when “the soccer phenomenon becomes what we think it can become.” Changing demographics and a new generation of soccer players point to soccer’s ascent here in the States. Curran explains that the influx of youth soccer started with the great Pelé and another big burst of interest came after the 1994 World Cup.

The current generation of youth players is the first generation where professional soccer is thriving. MLS is in its 17th season of existence and all signs point upward with 19 stable franchises and fan interest at an all-time high. Major League Soccer is not just a name anymore; it is a major league.

Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game.

Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told. Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game.

International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles.

The Pelé Sports Fan Ambassador Club – September/October 2012

There are many sides to Otto Orf: Cleveland soccer icon, indoor soccer star, futsal promoter, and friend of the beautiful game. What many people don’t know is that Orf is also a collector of all things soccer.

When did he know that soccer was the biggest thing on Earth? He was playing in an ethnic league in Fall River, Massachusetts. It was a league he spent a lot of time in despite his superstar status.

“I learned what soccer meant to people,” Orf commented. And it began to mean a lot to him. Today he loves watching soccer, teaching soccer, and talking about the history of the game. I have a feeling no one knows more about the indoor game than Otto Orf. Why? Because it was a game he helped build and it is something he is proud of.

If you measured his passion for the sport by the numbers of items in his memorabilia collection, he would surely be among the world’s biggest supporters.

He became a collector since he didn’t follow the traditional system to get it to college soccer and the pros.

“It connects me to the history of the game,” Orf added. “I wanted to share and learn more about it.”

Orf has over 10,000 items in his soccer memorabilia collection, including items dating back to the 1st World Cup. Many of his items are one-of-a-kind that can’t be found anywhere else.

Orf has a bit of everything imaginable: tickets, soccer cards, programs, pins, pennants, medals, balls, and autographs. His biggest prize happens to be items from the World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. These are rare, extremely valuable, and truly unique.

But his collection doesn’t stop there as he has collected something from every World Cup. Why is he fascinated with this event?

“The world stops for a month every four years,” Orf claimed. “It connects kids all over the world.”

Also known for his enthusiasm for growing the game, Orf was a late bloomer when it came to playing the sport itself. A natural athlete who also excelled at baseball, he became a goalkeeper as a sophomore in high school. He was born for the position, having all the key attributes: size, athleticism, a good arm, and a desire to learn more about the sport. He became the team’s Most Improved Player as a sophomore and junior before landing the MVP honor as a senior.

In an unorthodox move, Orf would play both soccer and baseball at the University of Buffalo before leaving college to turn pro in the USL with the Buffalo Storm. This was the beginning of an illustrious career that spanned 21 years. Orf played alongside real international soccer stars, players that spent time with the Peruvian, Scottish, and English national teams. He also had an opportunity to represent his country on an international level.

Orf is not only a superfan and soccer star, but also an international figure when it comes to the game of futsal. He had a seven year stint with the U.S. Men’s National Futsal Team, seeing time in CONCACAF qualifiers and the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

In the Midwest, Orf has been a one man futsal promoting machine, setting up leagues and facilities as well as training players in a new style of soccer, one that closely resembles street soccer. Futsal skills lead to exciting players that play for fun and for their fans. You might call it flair or creativity, but the end result is players more like Ronaldinho in his prime. Orf’s “Johnny Appleseed” ability to share his love and knowledge for the game in different ways has made soccer boom in the region.

His HandsOnSoccer camps are popular summer attractions, providing instruction to thousands of youth over the years. Orf understand the importance of young players, knowing that the ages of 4-7 are key periods for development. Players learn the foundations of the game, something that will give them a lifelong connection to the sport. This is where supporters and superfans are born.

If we had more supporters like Otto Orf, American soccer would be among the big boys of the sporting world.

Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game.

Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told. Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game.

International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles.

Sovereign | Santander named Official Bank of the New England Revolution

The New England Revolution and Sovereign | Santander today announced their multi-year agreement making Sovereign | Santander the “Official Bank of the New England Revolution.” The multi-faceted agreement will focus heavily on the Bank’s and the Revolution’s joint community involvement and engagement under the tagline, “One Team, One Goal,” which will be used in all of Sovereign | Santander’s Revolution programs.

Sovereign | Santander’s agreement with the Revolution also includes day-of-game sponsorships; on-site game day programs; community clinics run by the Revolution Academy and Revs players; naming rights for the team’s official “Man of the Match” award; on-field advertising during Revolution matches; away game trips; as well as television broadcast, radio broadcast, print and digital inventory.

The New England Revolution is Sovereign | Santander’s first US-based soccer property and joins Santander’s global sporting portfolio that includes sponsorship of Copa Santander Libertardores, as well as the 2011 Copa America Argentina, Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Santander Sudamericana.  Santander also sponsors the Ferrari Formula 1 race team, including Spanish driver Fernando Alonso and Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, as well as British McLaren drivers, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. In addition, Santander sponsors the four most prominent European races of the Formula 1 calendar: the British, German, Italian and Spanish Grand Prixs.

“Sovereign | Santander is a proud and committed partner of the New England Revolution and we carry that commitment to the communities and customers we serve,” commented Sovereign | Santander President and CEO Jorge Morán.  “Soccer is the world’s most-followed sport. We have seen its immense impact through our relationships and existing sponsorships.  We look forward to expanding our commitment to the sport in New England to further engage and enrich our community with this significant partnership.”

“It is great to partner with a champion in the banking industry like Sovereign | Santander,” said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, the holding company for the New England Revolution. “Since our inception, the Revolution players and staff have always been champions in the community. The players regularly volunteer their time and resources to the communities that provide so much support for them throughout the year. Customer service is emphasized in everything that we do and teaming up with a company like Sovereign | Santander, which is equally committed to excellence in customer care, is important to us. We believe in the strength of teamwork and look forward to the many opportunities we will have to engage our fans through this new partnership.”

A cornerstone of the agreement will be the launch of the Sovereign | Santander New England Revolution Community Clinics. The Revolution and Sovereign | Santander will present a series of free soccer clinics – featuring on-site, interactive and instructional programs – for Boys & Girls Clubs members and children in the Bank’s local neighborhoods.

Brazilian soccer legend, Pelé, who is Santander’s soccer ambassador since 2008, was present at the announcement to show his support of the bank’s new endeavor related to “the beautiful game,” with which he is globally associated.

“I have always been a champion of the Santander Group, and Sovereign | Santander’s new commitment to soccer and the community in the U.S. is particularly meaningful to me,” Pelé said.

The Pelé Sports Fan Ambassador Club – August 2012

Fans come when things are good and disappear when things go bad, but supporters are always there for their club and their sport. They live, breathe, and love their club. You won’t see people switching sides or jumping on a bandwagon; they are too proud and too loyal for that. The idea of a soccer supporter puts a lot of images in a person’s mind. A lot of stereotypes come up, but they are far from reality.

Michigan’s Gene Butcher is part of a new generation of soccer supporters that want to grow the game and help the community as well. He has been involved with the sport for 30+ years, experiencing the highs and lows of the American game.

The height of his soccer experience was attending World Cup matches in his hometown of Pontiac as international teams played several games at the Silverdome in 1994. This helped build a love for the beautiful game that has not tarnished over the years. Even though Gene admittedly lives and breathes the sport, there is more to life than soccer.

Gene and his brother, a fellow Detroit City FC supporter named Ken, decided to adopt a charity as a way to show people that soccer supporters really care about their communities. So the “Hooligans for Heroes” program was born with the sole purpose of raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Being part of a military family showed them how important it is to give back to veterans and active members of the armed forces.

A local soldier, who happened to be a soccer supporter, fighting in Afghanistan inspired the charity as he wrote about two friends that sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of an IED. When Gene and Ken read about this, they knew they found their charity. And the rest is history as an impressive response to the project has quickly raised funds for the veterans’ charity.

Gene is truly a hero himself, serving as a firefighter and paramedic by day. By night (and on game day) he is a passionate DCFC supporter.

People like Gene have helped DCFC create an incredible atmosphere for their players and fans. The Northern Guard Supporters have joined with the Motor City Supporters and Le Rouge Supporters to make sure Detroit soccer receives passionate, enthusiastic, “over the top” support.

“We have a lot of drums,” Gene commented. “We start chanting two hours before the game and we don’t stop chanting until after the game. It’s loud. It’s rowdy. It’s a lot of fun.”

Detroit City is blessed with 500-700 supporters at every home match. But it doesn’t stop there.

Gene was also a huge part of getting a derby started among several NPSL teams: Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo. The idea became known as the Rust Belt Derby. It is completely supporter-driven and focuses on promoting soccer on a grassroots level.

The supporters came up with a points system and even had a special trophy designed by a Detroit artist. The hardware went to AFC Cleveland in 2012, but the rivalry will last much longer. The best thing about the derby is that it brings the supporters together so they can share their love for the sport. There are no hard feelings or any sort animosity among the different groups from different clubs, but rather a friendship founded upon a mutual respect for the game.

Supporters like Gene are doing things the right way to grow the game and support their club and community. If every team had Gene’s passion and enthusiasm, then soccer could truly make a run at America’s big three in the sporting world: baseball, basketball, and football. Maybe, just maybe some day soccer will be America’s Favorite Pastime.

Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game.

Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told. Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game.

International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles.