Doubts thicken over Zaria 2018 Polo tournament
As the Nigerian polo family and enthusiasts of the sport of kings’ warm up for the second stage of its prestigious road tour, there are strong indications that the 2018 Zaria annual polo festival may not hold this year.
As at the time of filing this report, there has not been any official word from the management of Zaria Polo Club regarding the fate of the Zaria event that is revered as one of the most exciting and the oldest polo tournaments in the country.
Traditionally holding during the Easter holiday or a fortnight after, Zaria annual polo event has in recent years, provided a convivial ambiance for the polo fraternity to celebrate the return of the noble game of kings to the foremost Zauzau kingdom.
The prestigious fiesta that attracts teams from all the major polo centers across the country enjoys the royal backing of the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the Emir of Katsina who is the Life Chairman Nigerian polo, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman.
Polo Royals can authoritative disclosed that for a century now, major prizes on offer in Zaria include the high stake Royal Signal Cup which is the biggest cup, the medium-goal Emir of Zauzau Cup, The Governor’s Cup, the low-goal University Cup and a handful of subsidiary prizes and awards.
The chances of that convivial pilgrimage to the ancient kingdom this year hangs precariously in the air as the Nigerian Polo Federation, (NPF) was yet to receive any confirmation from the management of the club as at Friday.
NPF Secretary General Baba Kyari confirmed that “Zaria was yet to pick their tournament date.”
The scribe disclosed that Zaria’s hope of securing a date after the Sallah holidays may not be successful as almost all the slots for June have already been taken. “Bauchi, Minna, Yola and Fifth Chukker, have all picked their dates and I doubt very much if there would be any slot left for them to squeeze in,” Kyari lamented.
A visit to the Queens Road abode of Zaira Polo Club by Polo Royals last weekend further compounded the fears as there was no sign of preparation to host the event this year.
The few members spoken to believed there was still time as there were no major events on the calendar throughout the month of April. But that could be wishful as logistics and the organizations required for a befitting Zaria tournament takes months to perfect.
While Zaria is still sitting on the fence, there have been plenty of polo actions across the Easter holidays and plenty of club chukkers line up to excite polo freaks.
Apart from the renowned Abraka Turf international tournament that traditionally headline the Easter festivities, Bauchi, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Abuja were bubbling with polo excitements during the holidays.
There was a special tournament organized by Bauchi Polo Club to honour one of their devoted patrons, the Emir of Ningi, and as expected, the Col Dangiwa Umar Polo Ground in Bauchi was full to the brim as polo feaks, Emirs, government officials from within and outside Bauchi were part of the grand event.
In Kaduna, the Kangimi Resort was alive for days as teams spent the holiday sparing up in mini tournaments, same in Abuja as the Guard Polo Ground and in 12=12 Polo Turf in Gwaringpa were buzzing throughout the holiday period.