EL-Amin, Trappco, Rubicon, others battle for centenary glory
All is now set for the much awaited Kaduna Centenary International Polo Tournament which gallops off October 13 and climax October 21, 2018. It is one of the only two most prestigious polo events on the West Coast of Africa.
The other one is the Lagos International showdown that traditionally comes up in February each year, while Katsina, Port Harcourt and Kano complete the four grand slam polo events in the country.
The fast paced Nigerian polo tour that spread excitements across the North East during the just concluded Adamawa Polo festival in Yola, has landed in the North Central, with Kaduna Centenary event being the epic centre.
According to the President of Kaduna Polo Club, Suleiman Abubakar the 2018 edition marks a major milestone the history of the king of games as Kaduna celebrate the centenary of the introduction of the noble game in the city and the 99th edition of Georgian Cup competition.
The high profile polo extravaganza offers Africa’s most revered polo cup, the 400 years-old Georgian Cup as its biggest prize. Other major prizes to be carted home by the winning teams include the Emir of Katsina, Imani Cup and the EL-Amin Cup.
Billed for its traditional venue, the legendary Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna, the teeming polo enthusiasts who would be part of the historic annual festival, their main focus would be on the Georgian Cup, the event’s main prize where the big boys are gearing up to what would expectedly be the most competitive Kaduna polo in years.
Talking about the high stake Georgian battle, defending champions, Rubicon, all time longest champions, and heavily supported, EL-Amin, and former champions, Kaduna Trappco have intensify their preparations for yet another titanic face-off.
Fourteen times winners, EL-Amin who recently celebrated their 20th anniversary, Abuja Rubicon and Trappco Ranch, all have enough horse powers and fearless warriors to mount a cavalry. They all boost the needed fire power plus loads of Georgian Cup experiences that would thrill the crowd from start to finish.
The event’s second most wanted prize, the Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup and the crowded EL-Amin cup, have all the recipe of a trench war, as over seven teams comprising traditional rivals and ambitious newcomers, are all heading to Kaduna for the showdown.
Polo Captain, Ibrahim Babangida confirmed to Polo Royals that over forty teams would vie for honour in the week long polo fiesta that has been packaged to Kaduna a befitting Centenary celebration.
“On behalf of Kaduna Polo Club Management and the entire members of club, “I want to thank everyone both corporate and individual for their immense contribution and unflinching support,” Suleiman Abubakar declares at a crowded press chat on Thursday,
“We are humbled by this overwhelming support and we want to assured our sponsors, partners and donors that their money would be put to the best use, for the promotion of the game of polo in Kaduna and Nigeria as a whole.” He added.