Teenager Adu draws comparisons with Pele

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Freddy Adu has heard of them both and knows why he is being asked to consider the contrasting case studies of Pele and Nii Lamptey.

Pele, for many the greatest player of all, began rewriting history at the age of 17 by leading Brazil to their 1958 World Cup triumph. By the time the 2006 World Cup in Germany comes around, Adu will be 17.

Lamptey is the Ghanaian who illuminated the under-17 world championship in 1991 before becoming the forgotten man of soccer. Adu, born in Ghana, was the star attraction at this year's under-17 championships with his adopted country, the United States.

At the age of 14, Adu is starting to forge a career for himself and comparisons are inevitably being made.

He maintains he is not like Pele. However, with staggering bravado for his age, it appears that is only down to superficial reasons.

"People say I look like Pele," Adu said this week, moments after signing his first professional contract, with Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. "But I don't think so."

In fact, Adu's radiant smile and friendly face are not unlike Pele's.

Arguably the best young footballer in the world with speed, balance and a toughness betraying his years, Adu may also have been blessed with Pele's gifts.

Adu knows he is special, mainly because people around him keep saying how "unique" he is. At the moment, the excitement is infectious and a thrill to witness.

He controls the news conference called in his honour, giving an emotional speech in which he presents to his mother the pen with which he signed his contract.

He loves his new pink shirt and, later in the day in New York, performs a ball trick to perfection on the David Letterman television show.

HIGH SCHOOL

In fact, his maturity has led some to question the authenticity of his birth certificate but there is no proof to suggest he was born earlier than June 2 1989.

Adu, who rejected the chance to join elite European clubs, will graduate from high school two years ahead of schedule in March 2004 and become the youngest professional athlete in more than 100 years of American team sports if he makes his debut for new club D.C. United in April.

It will mark the end of one journey, which took him and his family from Tema in Ghana to Potomac in Maryland when they won a green card lottery six years ago.

As Adu recalls, it was a move which nearly scuppered his dreams of playing soccer altogether.

"In Ghana we ate, slept and breathed football," he told reporters. "That's where I first heard about Pele and (Diego) Maradona.

"I played in bare feet on the streets, surrounded by broken bottles and other stuff. But I just loved the game.

"When we came to America, I didn't like it at first. No-one seemed to play soccer. I was scared I wouldn't be able to play the game again."

A schoolfriend, noticing Adu's skills in a one-off playground game in 1998, told his parents. They, in turn, put a call in to the Adus and persuaded Freddy to choose their organised junior team.

In future, telephone calls courting Adu are likely to involve millions of dollars.

TWO JOBS

The only imponderable is how Adu will handle notoriety. With a strong family background and a small group of close advisors, the omens are good.

He does not have contact with his father but his mother, Emelia, has overseen his career. She turned down a six-figure sum from Inter Milan when Adu was 11, despite having to work at two jobs to support Adu and younger brother, Fro.

This year's $1 million contract with Nike does not seem to have affected Adu's focus, while Emelia and his agents insist they will protect his development off the field through his teenage years.

On the pitch, MLS is promising to protect their prized asset from any attempts by the league's hardmen to rough up the 'boy'. "He will not get special treatment but we will keep an eye on everything," said MLS's deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis.

Everything is in Adu's favour. Even Olympic gold medallist sprinter Michael Johnson has counselled Adu about how to avoid the pitfalls of fame.

His path to greatness is also clearly marked.

While hoping to make an early impression with D.C. United, Adu says he wants to earn a call-up for the senior U.S. national team for next year's Olympic Games.

Beyond that, a lucrative move to European football is likely, while U.S. soccer believes he will lead their challenge at the 2006 World Cup.

"A lot of players have been hyped up but just disappeared," Adu has said. "I promised myself I wouldn't be one of them.

"I see myself in a World Cup final for the U.S...One day, when I'm holding that trophy, someone's going to take that picture. That is going to be huge."

Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.