Katsina’2017 Polo Tournament Review: Max Air, Yola BSC, Kangiwa, Bompai Headline Festival
The Chairman of Adamawa United FC, Emmanuel Zira, says the 4-0 defeat of Cameroun by the Super Eagles on Friday showed the return of the winning spirit of the team.
Zira told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday that the team’s victory and style of play was reminiscent of the 1994 Super Eagles squad.
The Eagles defeated the Indomitable Lions at Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, to stay atop the Group B of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
“The team played excellently well and we are proud of them,” said the chairman of the Nigeria National League side.
“This shows the return of the old Super Eagles spirit and we hope that they will continue to build upon this performance.”
Zira however, advised Coach Gernot Rohr to maintain the first 11 players in remaining matches, adding that coaches hardly changed a winning squad.
“The coach should build the nucleus of the team around the first 11 that started.
“One could hardly pick out a player as the man of the match because all of them were in their best and that was how the 1994 squad that served us for long looked.
“The coach got it right in terms of his selection of players for the game I must confess,” Zira said.
From the packed VIP pavilion, to the surging crowd of the legendary Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground and record 30 team participation, 2017 Katsina international polo tournament truly lived up to its exciting tradition as the single biggest sporting cum tourism event in the ancient kingdom.
From the commanding display of Max Air to the brave campaigns of Yola BSC, and the clinical finishes of Katsina Kangiwa, Bauchi MA and the blushes of Zaria and Kaduna teams, the polo extravaganza was a spectacular atmosphere of eight days of top class polo that captivated the enthusiasm of buffs like never before.
At the end of weeklong of cutting edge competition and unparallel excitements, the high profile Katsina polo festival climaxed on a memorable note, with teams from Yola, Bauchi, Kano and host Katsina, carting home the main prizes.
Pivoted by the evergreen Bello Buba, Max Air trio of Prince Umar Kabir, Dini Magal Ibrahim and Ibrahim Seriki, defeated their arch rivals, Trappco Ranch from Kaduna 6-2 in drama filled final to win the event’s biggest prize, the Nigerian Cup.
Trappco had looked like dethroning the former champions who scored in the first minute of the final, surged ahead with two quick goals to draw level in the second chukka, but Max Air boosting an awesome horsepower, and the incredible team work rallied to take over the lead in the third chukka and held on to victory.
Jubilant Max Air supporters, who arrived in their thousands, were gunning for a second major title and they were rewarded by the resilience that edged the slow firing boosting Ibrahim Babangida, Aliyu Tijani, Muktar Adhama and defense strongman, Rabiu Mohammed to add the glittering Dikko Memorial Cup to their title haul.
Yola BSC were the rave of the general Hassan Cup rumble, the second most wanted prize of the event. Governor Bindo Big Boys parading Asharaf Yahaya, Aliyu Dahiru and Umar Modibo flew high above arch rival, Kaduna Logistics, to clinch a sensational General Hassan Cup victory.
There were plenty of admirations for Bauchi MA and Kano Bompai teams over the manner they navigated their way to breaking losing jinx in Katsina this year, sending a strong signal to visiting team ahead of 2017 Kano international polo tournament early next month.
Governor Abubakar’s Bauchi MA held their nerves to win the Talba Cup turning back a determined Kaduna Wali Stable in a masterful display, just as Ibrahim Faruku-led Kano Bompai gave their teeming Kano fans plenty to celebrate with the Comassie Cup win.
Katsina Kangiwa team led by the Magajingari Katsina, Aminu Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman powered the trio of Ahmed Abdulmumuni, Hassan Shehu and Mustapha Bagiwa to a nerve wrecking victory, subduing Nura Kangiwa’s NSK to win the coveted Governor’s Cup, the second major title for host Katsina.
Debuting Kaduna Insurers, who were eyeing their first polo title in Kano, lost the title by the whiskers, after a last minute loss of concentration cost them the title that would have been the second major victory for Kaduna contingent to the grand MTN Kano festival.
President, Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), Francis Ogboro who congratulated the winners and all participating players, assured that the game ruling authority will continue to support the Katsina Polo Club commitment to promoting the noble game of kings that has been played annually across the country for over a century now.
Captain of Katsina Polo Club, Prince Umar Kabir Usman who expressed satisfaction at the turn out and the high level of competitions at the 2017 Katsina international event, said he was looking forward to more excitements in Katsina next year and other NPF sanctioned polo events across the country.
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Massari who was represented by the Special Adviser Youth & Sports, Ibrahim Kali hails the major sponsors for its upper ground investment in the youths, congratulate the winners, while urging the runners-ups to redouble their efforts in subsequent tournaments.
Life Chairman of Nigerian polo, HisRoyalHighnessDr.Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman who gave out the biggest prizes at a colourful closing ceremony, acknowledges the commitment of NPF for its resolve to continue to lifting the tournament to greater heights.
“As administrators of the noble game you (NPF) understand that polo and sports generally play major social, political and economic significance in contemporary society,” the royal father added in his closing remarks.