DanDarma Upbeat for Season Openers in Katsina, Yola
Newly turbanned Dandarman Kabi, Alhaji Ibrahim Francis Ogboro is looking forward to a compelling and special season opening tournaments that will further increase the global appeal towards Nigerian polo.
Speaking on the eve of his historic turbaning ceremony by the Emir of Argungu, the traditional title holder who doubles as the President of the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) says the popularity of the noble game of kings is on the threshold of breaking new frontiers.
The title handed out at a colourful ceremony at the Palace of the Emir of Argungu before a mammoth crowd of crème de la crème of the top echelon of the society, was a fitting honour not only to the polo administrator, but for the enduring legacies of the game of kings in the country.
“As the countdown to September’s season opener raves on, the tournaments in the home of Nigerian polo, Katsina and a close follow up in the Fombina kingdom would set the pace in excitements and pomp as the road tour blast up,” The polo boss points out.
“The stars of the game will shine in the kingdoms of Katina and Adamawa and we look forward to an exciting moments that will further deepen the appeal of the game across the country.”
The Dandarma who pledged to carry out all the responsibilities of his office and performs other functions as assigned to him by Emir, HRH Alhaji Samaila Muhammed Mera, assured the cheering crowd of his readiness to support efforts that would bring development to the kingdom.
He dedicated the honour to every member of the Nigerian polo family, pledging to redouble his efforts at growing the popularity of the noble game and reposition it as one of the biggest avenues to driving the tourism potentials of the country.
“Our vision is to make sure that polo is played here in the country by more and more Nigerians’. We want to be able to show the world that we can play polo and we’ve proven that over the decades.”
“It’s a matter of growing the sport, from the youth all the way through, boys and girls, men’s and women’s. Hosting tournaments in all the many polo centres across the country, has been a massive boost.” The Dandarma added.
“We awarded our most prestigious tournaments to Katsina and Yola because we know that it is much more than centers with simply polo potentials, but ancient kingdoms with a growing, thriving and engaged king of games followership.
Billed to gallop off after the Eid holidays, the two prestigious tournaments are on track to be the best-attended polo festivals in years, with over forty ambitious teams finalizing preparations for the grand events.
Already, the NPF Grounds Inspectors have given their nods for the legendary Sir Usman Nagogo and the Lamido Musdafa polo fields to host the events.
Katsina boosting a rich culture of polo spanning four generations of the royal family, will take the first shot, hosting the opener in September, while the Fombina kingdom bubbles from the last weekend of September, for the 2018 Yola polo festival.
From the high mountains of Adamawa, the Nigerian polo tour will pick up steam with four bumper-to bumper tournaments lined up to rumble in the north central part of the country.
Kaduna, home to the oldest and the most revered polo prize in Africa, the Georgian Cup, will be in the eye of the world, with the Centenary tournament and the African Patrons Cup championship.
Centre of Unity, Abuja is also bracing for two bill board polo extravaganzas, the prestigious Unity tournament billed for the foremost 1212 Polo & Turf Club in Gwarinpa and the year ending Carnival polo at Guards Polo Club in Asokoro.