Dawule: Nigeria’s iconic polo ambassador lives on

“One of Nigeria and world’s polo icons, Dawule Baba, may have gone, but he will continue to live on,” said Senator Hadi Sirika as he unveiled the Dawule Baba Memorial Trophy at one of the many emotional events held across the country to immortalise his name. That indeed was a fitting remark and a powerful […]

“One of Nigeria and world’s polo icons, Dawule Baba, may have gone, but he will continue to live on,” said Senator Hadi Sirika as he unveiled the Dawule Baba Memorial Trophy at one of the many emotional events held across the country to immortalise his name.

That indeed was a fitting remark and a powerful tribute to a legend whose legacy continues to inspire the game of polo in Nigeria and across the world.

More than just a formidable polo player and patron, Dawule was a true ambassador of polo who shaped the sport’s landscape in Nigeria and beyond. Known as “The Professor” and earlier as “The Teacher,” he captivated audiences with his brilliance on horseback and his unmatched command of the game.

Dawule was born in Maiduguri, Borno State on February 24, 1959. He attended primary and secondary schools in Maiduguri, after which he went to the School of Forestry, Ibadan for his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma.

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He was the most watched polo player in Ibadan who later joined Usman Dantata because he liked his game. That was when his professional career started in 1982.

Dawule had played with Dantata in Nigeria and abroad, and that made him come in contact with professional polo players from Argentina, Malaysia and people like Prince Charles of England.

During his playing days, he played for teams like Kaduna Kakuri, EL-Amin, MIA Hotels, Fifth Chukker, Trappco and many teams and won top laurels with all, some on many occasions.

Indeed, his international career took full flight during his stay with a business tycoon and one of the world’s most respected polo patrons, Usman Dantata, whose Anandariyya Broilers team became the first Nigerian polo team to play and win major titles in England, France, USA, Argentina, among others.

After he left Dantata, he joined the Allied Ranch of Muktar Aruwa and played with him in America, England, Nigeria and other parts of the globe.

Despite his internationally acclaimed status, Dawule was deeply rooted in Nigerian polo, believing that the noble game was not reserved for the elite alone. He championed local talents like Adamu Yaro, Bello Buba and others, who rose from poor and humble backgrounds to stardoms through his mentorship and inspiration.

General Kapeh Kazir recalled that whenever Dawule was not playing, he would always make himself available to offer guidance to teams and young players, even without prompting.

His inspiring mentorship was impactful and result-oriented. He didn’t just play for victory and fame – he played to raise the standard of the oldest team sport in the world.

“His legacies, as numerous as they are, are nothing short of spectacular, earning him nicknames like “The Teacher” and later, “The Professor” from peers, admirers and enthusiasts alike, who recognised his unmatched brilliance in the game of kings.

“This Dawule is something else. I believe he is from another space and time. His grace on the ball and his riding completely takes you out of the game,” the late Dapo Ojoroa, another legend in his own right, once declared after one of his Majekodunmi Cup clashes against the legend in Lagos.

Dawule, until his death last month, was to the polo game what Maradona and Pele are to football. He won all the high-goals titles in his over 40 year conquests, striding over 20 countries around the world. He played and captained Nigerian national polo teams to the polo world cup championships on many occasions.

A little over 10 years ago, he coached the Nigerian polo national team to the Polo World Cup finals in Malaysia. The Nigerian contingent was led by the life chairman of the Nigerian Polo and Emir of Katsina, Dr Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman.  

During his playing days, he sponsored his own team, Kaduna Deebe Farms Polo Team that contested and won many high-goal titles across the country and internationally.

He was the highest handicapped Nigerian player at +5 in 1988, a rating he solely maintained for 10 years until 1998 when he came down to +4 four. Before he gracefully bowed out from his professional career, he dropped to +3.

Upon retirement, Dawule went into the polo business of buying and selling horses, polo equipment and other accessories of the game.

He truly played and lived the game of polo till his very last breath. Therefore, the just concluded Dawule Baba Memorial Polo Tournament held in Kaduna was not just another polo event, it was a special sporting fiesta where polo enthusiasts savoured the noble game and paid glowing tributes to the foremost Nigerian legend.

The president of the Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, who led the Board of Trustees and members of the Management Committee of the club to the unveiling arena, said they dedicated the unveiling to the everlasting memory of the Nigerian polo ambassador.

“His passion for polo, sportsmanship and enduring legacy, both on and off the field, will be remembered with admiration and respect,” the Kaduna polo boss said before leading the DeeBee Polo team to win the inaugural Dawule Baba Memorial Cup.

Today, his legacy lives on through his sons – Baba and Abba – and all those he impacted, who are household names in Nigerian polo.

Dawule’s saddle may be resting, but the sound of Baba’s hooves still echoes through foremost polo grounds of Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abraka, Kaduna, Jos, Katsina, Lagos, Minna and beyond.