2018 World Military Polo: No Holiday for Nigerian Eagles

There will be no Christmas and New Year holidays for the Nigerian Armed Forces team as countdown for the much-awaited World Armed Forces Polo Tournament draws even nearer.

Armed Forces polo team Coach Kapeh Kazil who handed down this order stated that those who will wear the national colours at the week-long polo extravaganza will forgo their Christmas and New Year holidays to finalize strategies ahead of the prestigious military grand event.

Polo Royals reliably gathered that the team has since moved into close camping at an undisclosed location in the country for the final stage of preparation ahead of the event that would make headlines around the world.

“We are quite aware of the huge responsibility of hosting and vying for honours at such a big polo event. The fact that an Armed Forces polo event is holding in Nigeria for the second time in ten years, is a challenge we hope to give our best, and we would not disappoint,” Kazil vowed.

Over ten players were last week picked as probables for the World Military Tournament to be held in Abuja early next month. The players will undergo intensive training under the tutelage of capable technical experts, Polo Royals has learnt.

That technical think-tank include polo greats and Military polo veterans like Nigeria Polo Ambassador, Dawule Baba, The “Commander of the Old Brigade” and former military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar who captained Nigeria at the inaugural edition in 2006.

Other technical advisers include Minister of Defense, General Mansur Dan Ali who led Nigerian team to the follow up the World Military polo tournament in India, where Nigeria finished tops in the Elephant polo event, Generals Bindawa and Yerima, among others.

Based on the performance in these tournaments, the Armed Forces polo team technical committee will finally pick six players for the World Cup to be held at the Guards Polo Club and foremost 12-12 Polo & Turf both in Abuja from January 8, 2018.

Polo Royals also gathered that most of the participating countries have started sending in their respective team lists jersey colours, national flags and a tape of their national anthems to the organizers.

Publicity Committee Chairman, General Yerima said everything points to an exciting tournament with all participating countries fielding their best hands in what would undoubtedly be an historic event.

“We are indeed grateful to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army, particularly, Ministry of defense, the Chief of Army Staff, and all our partners for their immense support for this international project that is guaranteed to change the face of Polo in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large,” Yerima added.