Until his passing, legendary Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai was widely and fondly known by a nickname that echoed across stadiums and streets: Dodo Mayana. But how did that unusual name come about, and what does it even mean? In an emotional and reflective interview recorded before his death by leadership news Facebook platform, Rufai himself shared the charming backstory of how the name came to be—a tale that intertwined humility, dedication, mentorship, and an unexpected moment of stardom in Portugal.
Peter Rufai’s journey to becoming one of Nigeria’s most iconic goalkeepers was paved with sacrifice and a deep respect for those who came before him. As a young man joining the national camp around 1981, Rufai found himself in the company of some of Nigeria’s goalkeeping greats—names like Peter Fregene, Emmanuel Okala, and Best Ogedengbe. To him, they weren’t just teammates; they were mentors.
“I learned from all the goalkeepers who I was with,” he recalled. “I used to wait at the door of Emmanuel Okala in the morning, just to carry his boots to the team bus. Then I’d go get Peter Fregene’s, and Best Ogedengbe’s too. I would pack all their boots and hand it to them when they were ready.”
This sense of devotion and humility did not go unnoticed. Fregene, in particular, saw the fire in the young keeper and began calling him “Dodo.” Though it seemed a casual nickname at the time, it was only the beginning.
The real magic happened during a training camp in Portugal in 1982, under the watchful eyes of Brazilian coach Otto Gloria. Rufai, still a junior among giants, was given his shot between the sticks. It was a training session unlike any other. Thirty balls lined up, shot after shot fired at him—and he dove, blocked, and saved them all.
“I was just putting into practice everything I learned from Fregene and Best,” he said. “All that time I spent watching them, carrying their boots, it was now paying off.”
As the whistle blew to signal the end of training, Rufai heard the crowd yelling something. “They were shouting and pointing at me. I didn’t know it was me they were cheering for,” he recalled. “Then I heard it—‘Dodo!’”
But there was more. The Portuguese-speaking fans began to chant what sounded like “Dodo, Amayana!”—a mix of admiration and curiosity. Confused but playful, Rufai responded with a similar gesture, and the name stuck.
What Does Dodo Mayana Mean?
According to Rufai, the nickname evolved from that training moment. “In Portuguese, ‘Amana’ or ‘Amayana’ means tomorrow,” he explained. “So, ‘Dodo Amayana’ was like saying, ‘Dodo, we want to see more of you tomorrow.’ They loved my performance so much, they wanted more.”
The fans created a call-and-response pattern. One would shout, “Dodo Mayana,” and Rufai would reply, “Mayana Dodo.”
“It became a thing. That’s how the name was born,” he said, smiling at the memory. “Even fans stopped calling me Peter. They preferred to call me Dodo Mayana. And when someone calls me that, I know they truly know me.”
That nickname would follow him throughout his career, becoming synonymous with his agility, charisma, and commitment on the pitch. It wasn’t just a name—it was a symbol of his rise from humble beginnings, a young man eager to carry boots and clean jerseys, to a national hero loved home and abroad.
As Nigerians fondly remember their Dodo Mayana, they also celebrate the values he stood for: respect, humility, and the pursuit of excellence. His story reminds us that greatness often begins in service—and sometimes, all it takes is one unforgettable day and a crowd’s cheer to birth a legend. Dodo Mayana!
Mayana Dodo!
-Jamiu Abubakar
(08085185886)
