Pedro’s wonder World - 16.07.2010

Tenerife youngster has starring role as Spanish heroes lift the World Cup

TENERIFE had an extra-special reason for raising the roof as Spain won the World Cup for the first time last Sunday.

 

Pedrito Rodriguez Ledesma, better known as Pedro, was born in Santa Cruz, but grew up in the small village of Abades, on the east coast. And he played a starring role for his country in South Africa.

 

No wonder Abades went crazy with excitement when midfielder Andres Iniesta cracked the ball home four minutes from the end of extra-time against Holland at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, for the only goal of the game.

 

Amazingly, Pedro, one of seven Barcelona stars in the Spanish team, played only his first international in late May, coming on as a substitute after an hour during a 3-2 warm-up win against Saudi Arabia in Innsbruck, Austria.

 

His performance in that short period was enough for the striker to clinch a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.

 

In just two seasons, on top of his World Cup-winners’ medal, he has compiled the most incredible array of honours with Barcelona: Two Spanish League (La Liga) titles, the Spanish Cup (2009), Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup (2009), UEFA Champions League (2009), UEFA Super Cup: (2009), FIFA Club World Cup: (2009) ‒ and he became the only player ever to score in all six club competitions.

 

His head must have been a spin as he took his place proudly alongside Spain’s established stars as they enjoyed an open-top bus journey through the centre of Madrid. They were entertained by Spain’s royal family and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

 

It was surely the dream to end all dreams for the kid from Abades. He played for CD Raqui, in San Isidro, at the age of ten and was so tiny that his nickname was “Mascot”.

 

Before long, though, he was scoring goals galore and within four years he was spotted by a Barcelona scout in a junior match in Adeje and promptly signed up.

 

He arrived at the Nou Camp in August 2004, two days after his 16th birthday and, after hovering on the edge of the La Liga giants for a few years, earned his chance at the expense of former Arsenal striker Thierre Henry.

 

In the season just gone he confirmed his worth with 23 goals and is considered a mainstay for the La Liga champions. He also has a new Barcelona contract until 2014 and a 60-million-euro price tag on his head.

 

But he is still just a nice kid from Tenerife, as he demonstrated when CD Tenerife travelled to Barcelona last season for a La Liga clash.

 

Pedro treated all the staff at the V Power petrol in Los Olivos, on the TF1 near Adeje, where his Dad works as a pump attendant, to a day out. He paid their air fares and all expenses, and they were his personal guests at the game.

 

The Canarians had another star to celebrate as well because David Silva, from Gran Canaria, played alongside him on the wing in South Africa, and has just transferred from Valencia to Manchester City for £24 million

 

As for the World Cup final itself, Spain endured a fierce battering by Holland, but that was quickly forgotten as millions of fans saluted their triumph. It is said that worldwide TV audiences amounted to one billion viewers.

 

And just as they had done the previous Wednesday, during the semi-final victory over Germany, so Tenerife’s Brits became Canarian for the night, flooding into bars and restaurants all over the south ‒ some even wearing Spanish football shirts.

 

True, Spain were not at their best, but they were still worthy 1-0 winners over a team determined to boot them off the pitch at every opportunity.

 

It was a slice of history because no reigning European champions had ever added the World Cup to their portfolio before.

 

English referee Howard had his work cut out all night, and it remained something of a minor miracle that he showed only 14 yellow cards, including two for a sending-off.

 

Holland were the recipients for the most part, although Spain were not without blame, landing five cautions of their own as they retaliated.

 

The match itself should have been contested by two classy sides, and it promised so much but delivered so little ‒ until Iniesta’s winner.

 

The Dutch screamed blue murder at the referee, especially former Chelsea star Arjen Robben ‒ he missed their best two chances ‒ who complained that the ref had given a goal-kick which led to the goal instead of a corner to Holland.

 

But to no avail. Spain were home and hosed and, at the end of the tournament, the right team won.

 

While many jubilant fans will not have made it to work the next morning, either here or in Spain, up to one million of them on the mainland greeted their conquering heroes.

 

There were joyous scenes in Madrid from the moment they touched down ‒ Spanish flags flew from the cockpit windows and the plane was emblazoned with the words “Campeones” (Champions) and “Orgullosos de nuestra seleccion” (Proud of our squad).

 

Hundreds of thousands of people lined a five-mile route in a mass of red and yellow as the team made their way through Madrid on an open-top bus.

 

As the parade snaked through the heart of Madrid, fire-fighters hosed down fans sweltering in 40C temperatures, while Spanish air-force fighter jets flew overhead trailing the colours of the national flag.

 

Captain Iker Casillas, who was in floods of tears after the final whistle at the Soccer City Stadium on Sunday night, again appeared to be on the verge of crying as he led his team across the tarmac to a waiting coach.

 

They were taken to a nearby hotel to eat and rest before heading to the Royal Palace for a reception with the Spanish royal family.

 

King Juan Carlos was accompanied by his wife, Queen Sofia, his eldest daughter, Princess Elena, and his son Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia.

 

“Thank you champions, in the name of all of Spain and all Spaniards,” he said after greeting each player personally.

 

“This is a well-deserved victory for an exceptional team, who thrilled the hearts of all Spaniards. You brought together all Spaniards, made our dreams a reality and projected the name of Spain around the world.”