NPF begins inspection of Polo grounds in Nigeria
The fear of the Grounds Inspectors is now the beginning of wisdom. So it seem to the managements of the various polo clubs across the country, as the inspection team is set to commence a nationwide tour of all the polo ground in the country.
Polo Royals exclusively gathered that the long awaited exercise that has been on the works for a long time, is aimed at ensuring that all the polo field around the country, meet with the international standard and a mandate the all- powerful Grounds Committee has vowed to enforce to the later.
Worried by the deteriorating rate of many polo fields across the country, Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) recently set up a committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that polo clubs maintain their fields and keep their playing turfs up to the standard obtainable elsewhere in the worlds.
The committee which was eventually inaugurated in Bauchi says it has contacted all affiliated polo clubs across the country, to keep their grounds in order, or risk having their grounds shut down and possibly having their annual tournaments postponed or cancel all together.
Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Mohammed Baba who disclosed this, added that the committee has concluded arrangement to embark on a nationwide tour of all the polo clubs, with Bauchi and Minna polo clubs, being the first ports of call.
Baba who warned that there would be no sacred cow when it comes to the issue of meeting the standard set by NPF, confirmed that the committee would be inspecting the Ningi Road Polo Ground in Bauchi , ahead of the Katsina international polo tournament billed for late June.
He listed other members of the committee to include Musty Junaid from Guards Polo Club in Abuja, Dr. Ike Nebolisa, while Aminu Gagare from Katsina Polo Club, serves as the secretary of the committee.
He maintained that there is need to update the condition of polo grounds across the country because of the risky nature of the game, where the lives of players and horses are at stake. “NPF is concern about safety and is committed to ensuring that all the polo grounds make the required safety standard.”
“We are serious about this and my humble advise to all the affiliated clubs, is to meet up with the required standard, because there will be no waver in this matter,” he added.
From Bauchi, the committee intends to inspect other grounds in Minna, Katsina, Yola and Jos among others. These grounds are billed to host major tournaments in the third and last quarters of the season that would effectively be rounded off in the Tin City of Jos.
Baba who is also the captain of Yola Polo Club, said the club is also working a head to ensure that the Lamido Musdafa Polo Ground maintains its traditional superb state ahead of its prestigious Yola international polo festival scheduled for the last quarter of 2018.
“We are particularly proud that the Lamido Musdafa Polo Ground is one of the best polo playing fields in the country and we have every reason to believe that that Inspection Committee would be please on their visit,” he assured Polo Royals on phone.
Reputed as the biggest sporting cum tourism festival in the ancient Fombina kingdom that attract tourist and polo enthusiasts in their drove annually, the 2018 Yola polo extravaganza look particularly inviting with foreign professionals expected to showcase their skills at the grand event.
From the ancient kingdom of Bauchi, the facilities inspectors would head to Niger State capital city of Minna, where the polo secretary, Ahmed Salisu says all hands are on deck to prime the IBB Polo Ground to international standard ahead of the visit.
Polo Royals checks reveal that the first phase of the inspector tour would end in legendary Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground in Katsina, revered as the “Home of Nigerian Polo”.
NPF President, Francis Ogboro who urged the committee to be firm in discharging their responsibility, expressed confidence that soon Nigerian polo fields would compare with the best grounds around the world.
“Ensuring Nigerian polo pitches compare favourably with those obtained in the developed nations is not an impossible mission,’’ he said, noting that work had commenced on various polo grounds across the country before the season resumes in a matter of weeks.