Profile Group Polo wins Kaduna centenary tournament
Thousands gathered at the iconic Murtala Square polo grounds, in Kaduna recently, for the highlights of not only the Kaduna high goal season, but the national polo calendar. Profile polo team, off shoot of thirteen -time Georgian Cup champions EL-Amin, and local rivals Fifth Chukker took to the field.
Both teams came out fighting with Fifth Chukker first out the blocks, firing three shots on goal with only one in return from Profile.
As the match continued, the teams continued to exchange the goal scoring hat, with Profile each time notching the important goal to take them one ahead.
As the game interchanged to and fro, Fifth Chukker (Lawal Mohammed, Daniel Garba, Jamilu Mohammed and Yusuf Garba) took the lead with a field goal but Profile (Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, Ibrahim Mohammed, Mohammad Babangida and Rabiu Mohammed) came back fighting, scoring a late winning goal, 2-1 1/2, and with it clinched the Centenary Cup staged to mark the 100th year of Kaduna as a city.
“The match was amazing, we started really well and strong, and we played fantastically. I think the pressure towards the end got a bit much and really put us under some pressure. Luckily we managed to pull through so we were thrilled to get it done,” enthused Ibrahim Mohammed, Profile Group team captain.
“I would like to pass on my thanks to Kaduna Polo Club and all those involved whose hard work has resulted in this exciting tournament.
“You could see that our opponents really gave us a fight today. “We won but I must tell you that it was a very hard-earned victory,” declares Profile Group Chairman, Babangida.
The Patron of the Decade multi-award winner and Captain of Nigerian polo world Cup team also dedicated the Centenary title to the people of Kaduna State and residents of capital city that marks its 100th year with pomp.
The three days commemorative polo tourney staged by Kaduna Polo Club to mark the milestone had earlier throw up Trappco Ranch as the proud winners of the medium-goal title. The last winners of the event came from the crowded low-goal category.
Such a top-class event as this put together in an attempt to bring benefactors and members of the foremost polo clubs back for the promotion of the noble game of kings, did not miss the familiar faces known from royalties, politics, sports and lifestyle.
Profile win of the Centenary Cup, is coming on the heals of a superb display in Keffi earlier December, that fetched them the glittering National Assembly Cup at the prestigious Keffi Open tourney.
Positioned as the next generation squad that would continue the winning run of Georgian Cup kings, EL-Amin , the Kaduna based side rolled over home side, Iyatu Farms 9-7 in the final to clinch their first keffi Open title.
With a sustained winning streak in 2017 season, Profile team is a member of the larger EL-Amin polo organisation that comprises a charty arm, the EL-Amin Polo Foundation that has for years, been catering for the needs of the less privilege in the society.
Each year, the best player in the EL-Amin Cup series smile home with N100,000 cash prize, while the overall winners in the tennis and the football events, are awarded scholarships by the foundation.