Brazilian sports legend Pelé to coach football-crazy kids in “Academy of Champions”, the new Wii game from Ubisoft set for release this year.

Enthusiasm is everything according to Pelé, and there’s plenty of excitement surrounding his new football game being created exclusively for Nintendo Wii! Ubisoft is the publisher and has worked closely with the iconic footballing personality to create ‘an engaging, interactive experience for kids and their families’.

The vision for the game is genuinely brilliant so we’re keeping faith that the developers at Ubisoft Vancouver can realise its full potential. Kids enrol in a fantastic football Academy where Pelé is head coach, and from there each student follows a story-driven path to glory. The game is compatible the Wii Balance Board and soon-to-be-released Wii Motion Plus accessories so expect to be playing samba football very much on your feet.

“Working with Ubisoft to continue to promote the sport has been a wonderful experience. It is a thrill to continue to inspire a new generation of fans through an entertainment medium that introduces them to the exciting world of football,” says Pelé in the official release from Ubisoft.

Thanks to our friends at Ubisoft, Pelé has also explained more about his game especially for the benefit of Yahoo! UK Games readers today:

Yahoo!: Can you explain Academy of Champions and what your role in the game is?
Pelé: “The game is about a fantastic football school, where talented kids come to learn the value of football and sports. They learn the beauty of competition and the respect for not only the sport but also the values of teamwork and friendship. I am the Headmaster of the school. I help children dream and, in the game, I help them realize those dreams. I motivate them and ensure that everything is done with the values that are so important in this sport.”

Yahoo!: Do you think Academy of Champions will encourage kids to practice their new skills on an outdoor pitch/park?
Pelé: “A video game will never be able to teach you to better dribble, or shoot a goal and I do not think that anyone promises this will be the case. I know Ubisoft is not making that promise! What this game can do however is to offer kids a new magical way to have fun with the sport and, as consequence, reinforce even more their passion for football. Academy of Champions is about having fun with football and learning about the values of the sport. You may start by thinking you are the best but you are going to need to learn to not only be the best but also to be a player that your team can depend on, count on and think of as a brother and friend. So, why not to experience the same fun in an outdoor pitch, taking this positive idea from the game and even try to make some crazy moves inspired by the game?”

Academy of Champions for Nintendo Wii will be published by Ubisoft in 2009. Like the man himself we have a feeling that it's going to be great.