Keffi Ranch Polo 2018: Keffi Ponys, Kaduna Profile upbeat for encore
Teeming fans of home crowd favourites, Keffi Ponys and Kaduna Profile group team are upbeat of a repeat of 2017 achievement by their respective champions’ sides, as the 2018 edition of the prestigious Keffi Ranch polo tournament gallops –off this week.
Both teams finished champions in their respective campaigns last year. Keffi Ponys subdued all comers to win the glittering Governor’s Cup, while Kaduna Profile team open their Keffi Ranch account with an emphatic National Assembly Cup victory on first attempt.
Both teams have been leading the build-up frenzy ahead of the 2018 edition and their respective players and supporters are heaping all their smart bets in favour of their darling teams to successfully defend their titles as the grand fiesta blast in the ancient kingdom of Keffi on Tuesday.
Keffi Ponys face their arch rivals, Kaduna Fifth Chuckker in a titanic race for the event’s biggest prize, while Profile Group tackles battery of six equally match and determined teams in the medium-goal category.
Polo Royals checks on the two camps reveal an uncommon frenzy as they put finishing touches to their strategies. Keffi Ponys Manager told Polo Royals that his team is set for the tournament.
Without letting much out, he hinted that the mood in his camp is right for a big campaign. “I’m confident that my players and ponies will deliver,” he added with a smile.
“We are in killer mood that best suited our title defence and any team that would risk standing on our way, will pay dearly for daring our resolves for encore,” a back room staff of Keffi Ponys warns.
Profile Team Manager and chief predator, Bello Buba who led Profile to their epoch national Assembly Cup win last year, believes the opposition this year looks stronger, but added “The harder they come….. The harder they fall.”
Positioned as the next generation squad that would continue the winning run of Georgian Cup kings, EL-Amin, Profile rolled over home side, Iyatu Farms 9-7 in the final to clinch their first Keffi Open title.
Both Buba and team captain, Ibrahim Mohammed say they are not given to tough pre-tournament hypes. Profile and EL-Amin is one strong unit and we have our chemistry to go fly pass any opposition, and we are not going to Keffi to take prisoners,” Buba told Polo Royals on phone.
Mohammed who captain Profile to victory last year, hinted that they would line our almost the same squad this year. “Profile is not planning to change the winning side, but we may scramble our strategy a little to handle the oppositions this year,” Mohammed declares.
Abuja and Kano contingent are both storming Keffi with four teams, are both aiming to finally end Kaduna teams domination of Keffi tournament as a follow up to Esbee Mobile edging of Kaduna Trappco in the final of the Emir of Keffi Cup last year.
Pundits who are familiar with the unpredictable Keffi polo are quick to point out that it will take much more than wishful thinking to stop the winning streak of Kaduna with the largest contingent of seven teams.
“With the absence of Rubicon and Almat, Abuja teams of ASI, Trademark and Dogonyaro, are too vulnerable. Same goes to Kano with just two scanty entries of Bichi Farms and Ibah Oil & Gas,” Mohammed Kaula, an Abuja based pundit declares.
Many bookmakers however warned that given the unpredictable and fluid nature of the noble game of kings, Kaduna or Kano and Abuja, should not go to the bank yet as the tournament can dramatically turn things on its head.
Polo Royals team of analysts also point to the direction of Jos with Malcomines who won their first ever Atiku Abubakar Cup title at the expense of Kano Akasma and debutants Lagos A-Plus to pull some surprises.
Expectedly, like last year, Keffi Open ’2018 rumble that is the sixth in series since the epoch inauguration of the polo ranch seven years ago, promises to be another befitting event for the Chief Host, Honourable Aliyu Wadada to give back to the society through the Wadada Education Foundation.