While watching the television screens and media coverage of the passing of the Brazilian football legend "Pelé," and observing the immense tribute he received in Brazil and across the globe, my thoughts immediately turned to the legend of Iraqi football and my late friend, "Ammo Baba." He was the founding pillar of football in Iraq and the Arab world. His star first rose as a player in the 1950s in Habbaniya, where he also excelled in track and field (400m hurdles) and tennis. Simultaneously, his brilliance as a coach began to shine within local clubs. He distinguished himself in the Military College, the Royal Guard, and the Iraqi Military National Team, eventually earning the rank of Captain in the Iraqi Army. As his legendary playing career with the National Team reached its pinnacle, he seamlessly transitioned into becoming the most prominent coach for the Iraqi National Team and various local clubs. Below is a photograph of the legend Ammo Baba (whose real name is Emmanuel Baba Dawud), which he gifted to me in Tunisia during a sports tournament in 1960, along with a collection of photos of us together.