TWO OF A KIND: PELE, RASHIDI YEKINI SHARE COMMON BIRTHDAY

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

**Nigeria’s goal king, Yekini could have been 56 today**

Football legend, Pele of Brazil was a special guest of honour at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final match, which pitched Nigeria against Zambia. At the pre-match ceremony, perspective observers may have noticed the special attention Pele gave to Rashidi Yekini when he was having handshake with the players.

Pele could be seen giving Yekini more that the traditional handshake. It turned to a hug and the rubbing the Nigerian player’s head.

There are certain attributes both Pele and Yekini share in common. Well known is the fact that both have goal-scoring instinct. That may explain why Pele gave that attention to Yekini.

But lesser known is the fact that both players were born on October 23 date and thus share common birthdays.

Pele clocks 79 this Wednesday. If Yekini were alive, he would have been 56