Can you imagine receiving Skin in your house and have a challenge, but about tennis? This happened a few years ago at the family home. They startle (yes, the family of Renata, the Mexican who arrived at the Australian Open in 2024). And even better, with other soccer figures like Carlos Reinoso and Héctor Miguel Zelada.
The Zarazúa family was always surrounded by tennis. José Luis Zarazúa, Renata’s father, grew up among courts and clubs like his uncle Vicente Zarazúa, who represented Mexico in the 1964 Davis Cup and in the 1968 Olympic Games; However, they also had friends who shone in soccer and who at that time were active in the America.
The ‘Maestro’ led the Coapa team and had a close relationship with Pelé, so He took him to the Zarazúas’ house to practice. a little tennis. The roof was not an ordinary one, but it had a court and usually there were friends or guests to play.
Photo: Sopitas.com
Pelé, Reinoso and Zelada in a ‘challenge’ with the Zarazúa
José Luis Zarazúa He was only 18 years old when he received Pelé in his home and better yet, played tennis with him. The Brazilian star received the invitation from Carlos Reinoso and Héctor Miguel Zelada asked if he could attend the meeting… as a photographer.
“That day my dad told me: ‘Don’t invite friends to the house, because Pelé is going to come and play at night.’ And at night Zelada spoke and told me: ‘I know Pelé is going to your house, do you think I can take some photos?’ I was very impressed because Zelada was an idol.
“We were having a rally when Zelada arrived as a photographer with his camera, a long lens and stood on the side of the field to take photos of Pelé. He didn’t take photos with him, he acted like a photographer and left. It made a pleasant impression on me. I talk about it and I’m still enjoying that game, we go down to the living room and have dinner. It was 40 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.“, Zarazúa said in an interview for Reforma.
Photo: Reforma
Pelé’s death caused mourning in football; However, also in sport in general and millions will remember him as a multifaceted human being. Although we knew him as a professional soccer player, he approached music as a singer and composer… as a tennis player, he was not bad at it.
Among the memories of Jose Luis Zarazúa Pelé’s hugs remain, which he compared to hugging “a steel pole” for his great physique.
“He played well. As a good athlete, he moved well, obviously he was not a tennis player. It was not a boring game, athletes are always competitive, When you play with that type of people there are no friendly games“, confessed José Luis. A few years later, he met up with O’Rei again in New York and they talked again about that rooftop match.
Photo: Reforma
It may interest you
Everything you didn’t know you need to know can be found at Sopitas.com
2024-01-12 18:36:00
#Pelé #played #tennis #Mexico #Carlos #Reinoso #Zelada #Zarazúa #family
