Abuja’2018 Unity Polo Fiesta set to gallop off with 12 teams
An exciting list of top Nigerian polo teams are expected to participate in the 2018 Unity Polo Tournament billed for the Abuja Guard Polo Club, Abuja from 13-18 May 2018.
This prestigious event hosted annually to celebrate Nigeria’s democracy offers three glittering prizes, with the biggest being the President Cup.
At a Press Conference in Abuja on Friday, the tournament manager Bem Garba said 12 teams will compete for three major championship prizes and a number of subsidiary prizes during the annual event. He said the names of the prizes were not being disclosed yet because discussions were still ongoing with sponsors who want their names attached to the prizes.
Garba disclosed that there were many entries from teams declaring their intention to participate but a draw will be conducted to arrive at the 12 teams for the tournament.
“We are expecting 12 teams to participate and vie for three cups namely; the President Cup, the Legislative Shield and the Guards Challenge in the high goal, medium and intermediate categories respectively with four teams in each category.
“Only the best will be allowed to compete as draws will be conducted. However, we expect new teams to compete,” Garba said.
However, the list of expected highgoal team at the tournament include Rubicon, Keffi Ponys, Kaduna Profile team, Kano Titans, Abuja Trade Mark and the hugely improved Dogonyaro Farms.
Each fortified with foreign professionals and Nigerian high goalers like Mohammed Babangida, Bello Buba, Jamilu Mohammed, Hamisu Buba, Ibrahim Mohammed and the Dantata brothers. The race for the winner of the President Cup this year may go all the way to the wire.
The intermediate and the medium-goal categories will not be less competitive as a battery of over ten teams loaded with arch rivals and big hitters from Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Zaria, Jos and host Abuja, are competing to make the cut for the tournament.
Garba confirmed this when he said “…we expect a good number of foreign players and one of best polo players in Nigeria, Bello Buba (+4) as well as other top players to feature in the tournament.”
According to the Tournament Manager, expected to grace the weeklong polo fiesta are a long list of royal fathers, state governors, members of the National Assembly, captain of industries, diplomats and thousands of polo buffs.
Chairman of Guard Polo Club, Musty Junaid confirmed to Polo Royals that the 2018 edition of the glamorous polo fiesta would be the most competitive and the exciting in years.
“Since democracy took root in 1999, every 29th of May has been celebrated as a public holiday in honour of the country’s progressive growth as a democratic nation and we are using the Unity tournament to celebrate our much cherish democracy,” he explained.
“We are also using this carnival polo tournament to let polo enthusiasts and the business communities to know that the Nigerian capital city has a facility like the Guard Polo Club that can comfortably host an international polo tournament of any magnitude,” the Senator pointed out.
Grounds Manager, Aliyu Umaru confirmed that everything was on ground for a successful tournament. “Our pitch is in top shape and the location of the Guards Polo Club remains a tourist delight. Those who would be part of this historic event are guaranteed a most exciting and the most memorable time in Abuja,” he added.
He stated that with the pitch at the club, the players will surely have a nice game on the turf which will bring the best in them and promote competitiveness.
“After the last edition of the Unity tournament, the management of the club found it very fit to heavily invest in the irrigation infrastructure of the pitch over the last six months.
“We have one of the best pitches, if not the best in the northern part of the country”, he noted.
Almat Group whipped Trade Mark 7 to 3½ in a one-sided encounter to emerge winners of the President’s Cup at the 2017 Abuja Unity Polo tournament.
Trade Mark who were looking to win the cup for the very first time in the history of the tournament boasted a very formidable quartet of Aliyu Umar (0), Nasiru Lukat (+1 ), Abba Dantata (+2) and Jamilu Mohammed (+3).
But, Almat Group that has won every tournament they competed for in the last two years, fielded a much stronger and experienced side that included the Badamasi brothers, Abdulmalik (+3), Idris (+3), Nura Suleiman (+1) as well as Abubakar Jugunu (+1).