As the 2025 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament enters its grand finale stage in Kaduna, crowd favourites, and 2025 Access Bank Cup champions, Clearwater Polo Farm has dedicated the glittering prize to the ever-lasting memory of Nigeria’s polo ambassador, the late Dawule Baba who passed on a fortnight ago.
“This victory is dedicated to the late ‘Great Teacher’ Dawule Baba. Beyond our vision and mission, he inspired the spirit of the team” declared General Kapeh the Clearwater polo Chairman, whose team defeated strong oppositions to lift the glittering Access Bank Cup last weekend, shortly after lifting the cup at the presentation ceremonies last Sunday in Kaduna.
“He was directly involved in the composition of the team prior to his falling ill. He was always available to give his counsel when consulted. He would even call in to advise on what he would have observed even without prompting.
“His spirit lives in the Clearwater Polo Team,” he added.
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The retired Nigerian Army Polo Team Captain, who salute the courage of his players during the campaign for the Access Bank Cup, explained that the team spirit is hype high after Sunday’s victory the players will keep attacking as they eye a double in the Usman Dantata Cup
“Our mission is to clinch the double crown of the Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield and the Usman Dantata Cup. “That will position the team in the League of Champions,” General Kapeh who led the team to Dapo Ojora Cup in Lagos a few months ago insisted.
The first stage of the prestigious polo tourney climaxed in exciting triumphs for the Kaduna based warriors and Mangal Cement teams as they emerged champions, winning the Access Bank Cup and the UNICEF Cup respectively after a closely fought finals.
Mangal Cement win UNICEF Cup, securing back-to-back titles with a thrilling comeback against Golden Alchemy from Lagos. Attahiru, Mangal’ Munir Suleiman and Murtala Aliyu led the team from three goals down to write their names in gold.
The second stage and grand finale week of the 2025 Charity Shield polo tournament continue with teams loaded with professional players from Europe, Argentina and the best of their Nigerian counterparts vying for the Usman Dantata Cup and the event’s biggest prize, the Charity Shield.
Major highlights of the second stage of the annual charity event will undoubtedly be the Herbert Wigwe Memorial Cup that would be played in the everlasting memory of the late Chairman of Access Corporation, and the inaugural Dawule Baba Polo Day and Lunch of his Polo Academy.
The Charity Shield began in 2003 as a platform to support local charity organizations in Kaduna and over the decades, this humanitarian effort has been geared exclusively towards UNICEF intervention projects for orphans and vulnerable children in Kaduna State.
The Charity Shield UNICEF Polo Tournament, in partnership with the Fifth Chukker, is dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through education. This charity tournament aims to raise funds for the construction of 120 classroom blocks in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
With over 60 classroom blocks already completed and 60 more underway, the initiative is making a tangible difference in improving access to quality education for children in need.
According to the organizers, this initiative plays a critical role in supporting UNICEF’s education intervention project, driving lasting change for underprivileged communities and the surrounding rural communities in Kaduna and its environs.