Keffi Ranch Open: Keffi Ponys, Malcomines, Profile are Kings
The just concluded Keffi Ranch Open international tournament was an unforgettable epoch that set new heights, crowning brand new champions in the high-goal, medium-goal and the Low-goal categories of the glamorous event whose proceeds benefits education in Nasarawa State. The prestigious polo carnival that pitched over 34 polo teams and top Nigerian and foreign players left in its glowing trail many memorable highpoints both on and off the pitch. One such glittering highlight was the debut of Danyaya Cup that produced its first-ever champion, and the participation of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare. Other major landmarks of the 2019 Keffi Open include the curtain drawing final game that decided the winners of the event’s biggest prize, the President Cup, and the royal participation of Etsu Nupe who led other regular royals fathers like the Emirs of Keffi, Nasarawa, Lafia and top politicians from across the country. Polo Royals reports that after a weeklong campaign for honours, home crown favourites, Keffi Ponys, the rampaging Jos Malcomines, Kaduna Profile and Abuja YBL dominated the biggest annual Polo event in the country. Honourable Aliyu Wadada playing alongside the national team captain and EL-Amin chairman, Mohammad Babangida and two foreign professionals powered Keffi Ponys to win the President Cup, leaving ambitious newcomers, Malcomines to settle for the runners-up prize in the high-goal category.
One of Nigeria’s emerging big patron, Murtala Laushi and his Malcomines squads harvested three major titles, sweeping passed tough oppositions, to clinch the Governor’s Cup, and added the President Cup and Emir of Keffi Runners-up titles for effect. Other top winners of the fiestas decided in front of a surging crowd of polo enthusiasts at its foremost Keffi Ranch venue include former champions, Kaduna Profile that outshone others to lift the National Assembly Cup, and Iyatu Farms team edged Keffi Ponys (2) to become their first-ever winners of the Danyaya Memorial Cup. Keffi Polo Ranch Proprietor, Aliyu Wadada who welcomed all guests and dignitaries to the grand finale, told the Sports Minister that Keffi Polo Ranch project has archived all its goals as a commercial entity and as a charity platform that supports the education of the less privileged, orphans in Nasarawa State. Wadada informed his guests and teeming polo buffs who turned out in large numbers to witness the finale of the prestigious polo fiesta, that, “I’ve always believed in giving back to the society. It’s a huge pleasure to champion the birth of polo here and use the proceeds to benefit the orphanages and education in Nasarawa State and I’ve been lucky my little efforts are yielding results.” he said. Tournament Manager, Bashir Mohammed, satisfied at the successful hosting of the grand fiesta, told Polo Royals that next year would get better as it has always been over the years, promising that the next edition would be another thrilling polo experience for the lovers of the game. ”Mohammed who commended the sponsors for their commitment stated that having gained a reputation as one of the biggest polo tournaments in the country, we look forward to delivering great values for the sponsors and partners and to redouble our commitment to the development of polo in Nigeria. “Our commitment to this tournament remains strong and we are passionate about our tournaments that benefit education charities across the state and beyond,” he declared in his closing remarks The Special Guest of Honour expressed satisfaction at the quality of the games and the growing popularity of the noble game in the state and across the country, expressing pleasant surprise at the mammoth crowd that witnessed the grand finale The Sports Minister and the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Sule led other dignitaries to give out prizes to the winners at a colourful closing ceremony that brought the curtain down on yet another epoch Keffi Polo Ranch Open festival.