Umar: People have misconceptions about polo
Sani Umar is one of the patrons of the Kano polo club which hosted a recent international tournament and also a passionate player of the sport himself, Fever Pitch sat down with the +1 Handicap for a chat on issues affecting polo.
Tell us more about yourself and how you got involved with the sport?
My name is Engr. Sani Umar. I am 42 years old, married with four children. I have an engineering consultancy firm in Kano. I started playing polo 8 years ago, and Alhamdulillah I currently hold a +1 handicap. My family has an equestrian history and culture and I have been riding horses in Sallah durbars since 1984. About that time my uncle started playing polo and I became aware of the game. I got hooked as a fan and started playing and buying horses in 2008.
Some say this year’s Kano polo tournament is one of the best in recent years, do you agree?
Yes. This year we had more matches and the attendance cut across the nation which a massive plus.
Spectator numbers are still very low for polo compared to other sports, how can this be addressed?
The sport needs more publicity. This is where media outlets like the Daily Trust come in. We hope you will continue to give polo better and more coverage because doing that will go a long way to addressing the issue.
We saw massive encounters and memorable action during the tourney, which game for you stood out?
The match that stood out was the finals of the MRS cup between our team Triple K and Ibadan Mapo. It was a very tight and fascinating game. In the end both teams had 3 goals apiece so we had to enter extra chukker and the game was determined by sudden death. It was the first time that happened in the last 8 years.
Tell us more about what went on regarding the preparations and getting corporate sponsors for the event?
Getting sponsors for a sport like polo is an uphill task. Thankfully MTN has been partnering with Kano polo club and other clubs as major sponsors. The economic climate has however affected MTN’s sponsorship, however I wish to call on other corporate brands to come in and sponsor our games which will in turn provide a wide and far reaching avenue to market their goods and services.
What do you think needs to be done to elevate polo across the country?
In my opinion, more publicity and awareness campaign will be vital. We need to disabuse the misconception that polo is a game for elites and royalty only. It’s a myth, anybody that loves horses and equestrian activity can play the sport.
What is the club’s management doing to renovate and upgrade parts of the club that are in disarray?
A lot of effort is being put in by the management, we are getting more members and the facilities are getting stretched. The management is working towards upgrading our pitches both at the club and race course where we sometimes play. However the present economic recession in the country is slowing us down.
What should Nigerians be expecting for next year’s event?
Next year promises to be bigger and more exciting with more teams coming from more clubs.
Would you want to see a revamped African Nations Cup for polo?
Of course. I want to see players from African nations competing amongst each more. It will be good for the sport and will also encourage tourism across the continent.