Abuja glitters for carnival polo tournament
Nigeria’s capital, Abuja is bracing for a huge in-flock of tourists as the countdown of this year’s Abuja Carnival Polo Tournament dominate media headlines across the world.
The grand event that has continually drawn the biggest crowd to the nations’ capital city in the last four years remains one of the major highlights of the prestigious Abuja Carnival.
Organized and hosted by Guards Polo Club in Asokoro, the annual event which is in its fifth edition this year, is guaranteed to be a hit.
For the first time in its short and flourishing history, the Abuja Carnival Polo Tournament’2017 that will also witness the traditional Durbar display would feature teams from all the major polo clubs across the country in a week-long polo excitements.
The Coordinating Manager of the prestigious fiesta, Mukhtar Adahama who disclosed this exclusively to Polo Royals, said the glamorous event will light up the Federal Capital Territory as one of the major highlights of the 2017 Abuja Carnival.
According to Adahama, participating teams would vie for honours in four major cups categories that include the LowGoal, the Intermediate, the medium-goal and the high-goal class.
It was also gathered that a number of subsidiary prizes would be on offer for selected teams.
“We are also using this carnival polo tournament to let polo enthusiasts and the business community know that the Nigerian capital city has a facility like the Guard Polo Club that can comfortably host an international polo tournament of any magnitude,” he pointed out.
Guards Polo Club Chairman, Musty Junaid who confirmed that everything was on ground for a successful carnival tournament, added that the event enjoys the full support of the Federal Capital Territory and the Nigerian Tourism Board.
“Our pitch is in top shape and the location of Guards Polo Club remains a tourist delight. Those who would be part of this historic event are guaranteed a most exciting and the most memorable time in Abuja,” Junaid added.
Expected to grace the grand polo fiesta are a long list of royal fathers to be led by the Sultan of Sokoto, President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Olusola Saraki, state governors, diplomats, and thousands of polo buffs.
Big names to watch out for during the grand carnival polo include Mohammed Babangida, Dawule Baba, Hon. Aliyu Wadada, Bello Buba, Hamisu Buba, Jamilu Mohammed, and Ibrahim Mohammed.
The exclusive list includes Maurice Ekpenyong, Baba Kyari, Ibrahim Babangida, Col. Yusuf Bello and Brig. Kapeh Kazil, among others.
Others billed to showcase their skills during the Abuja polo showdown include Honourable Aliyu Wadada whose Kaduna Keffi Ponys are still red hot after their African Patrons Cup outing at the African patrons Polo championship at Fifth Chukker Polo Resort in Kaduna.