The death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to the world simply as Pele, has left Jamaican great Allan “Skill” Cole in a pool of sorrow.

Cole had the privilege to have matched skills with the iconic Brazilian inside the National Stadium in 1975. Dubbed the “Battle of the Giants”, Pele was a part of the New York Cosmos team that visited Jamaica and played an invitational team led by Cole.

Although it was Pele’s second visit to Jamaica, it remained etched in the memories of lovers of the Brazilian game as they got to see in the flesh the game’s biggest name crossing paths with the island’s top talent at the time.

An iconic picture emerged from that historic moment with Pele and the Rastafarian Cole in dialogue. It was heart-warming and Cole reminisced with the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

“At that time there were two sporting heroes in Mohammed Ali and Pele, and when I met him, I was in awe because he was one of my heroes,” Cole said..

“He didn’t talk much English at that time and I had no idea about Portuguese, but it was a very great moment for me. He was so humble,” Cole revealed.

The Jamaican says Pele’s contribution to the modern game was beyond measure, as was his ability and guile on the field of play.

“His contribution will last for generations. He has transformed the game, and the beauty about, it he was such a humble person and that’s one of the great things about him,” said Cole.

The Jamaican legend, who made his senior Jamaican debut as a 15-year-old, was the only Jamaican to sign a professional contract in Brazil with Nautica. While Pele made his mark with Santos of Brazil, Cole did likewise with Santos of Jamaica.

“He lived a good life — 82. He was a sporting hero and one of the greatest icons of our generation and my memories will last forever,” said Cole.

And to tap into the enduring debate as to who is the greatest player of all time, Cole’s response was elementary.

“Pele. It’s not even close. People want to make it look close, but it’s not that close,” he said dismissively.

Meanwhile, another former Santos player Clive “Busy” Campbell, now renown for promoting the annual One Love Bob Marley charity football matches, had vivid recollections on Pele’s visit to Jamaica.

“Being a part of Santos football club, I am in mourning just now. When I look back on watching him in 1958 via some JIS videos on a Monday night at the Penson Park on Elleston Road, it showed you the Brazilians with the world at their feet,” said Campbell.

“If you go to the movies, like at Palace and before the show starts, they would show you clipping of world sports and here is this young man…some people don’t know what Pele is to football and the world.

“He was one of those who brought peace to Nigeria when factions were at war, and when he went there and played, it ceased. That’s how powerful he was as a football player and a man who is respected,” he added.

Campbell believes Pele’s trip to Jamaica was more popular than most head of State visits. He claims it was one of the most popular trips to the small Caribbean island by a celebrity.

“Byron Lee, New York Cosmos, Atlantic Records, that was the connection. The atmosphere was something else. The stadium was ram packed. Pele will always be remembered like Bob Marley and will reign forever when it comes to football like Bob to music,” he said.

But not every extended the royal treatment to Pele when he came to Jamaica.

“When he came to Jamaica to play, I remembered what Billy Perkins did and he was trying to deny that he kicked him down. But Pele had to come off, he couldn’t play the whole game,” said Campbell.

Pele had to leave the game just around the hour mark, but that 60 minutes have been etched in the annals of Jamaican history and will live on forever in the country’s football folklore.