2018 Abuja Unity Polo: Rubicon edge Trappco to lift President Cup
The city of Abuja celebrated one of its grandest moments, hosting the prestigious National Unity’2018 Polo Tournament, which came to colourful climax last weekend, with two special awards highlighting the grand fiesta.
As a special highlight, two of Nigeria’s most successful polo patrons, Maurice Ekpenyong and Isa Dagonyaro were honoured for their distinguished contributions to the infrastructural development of the Guard Polo Club and for promoting the noble game of kings in the country.
Expectedly, Abuja’2018 rumble that was in its ninth edition was a befitting event to celebrate Nigeria’s march to strengthen her hard earned democracy, as the serene polo centre treated the crème’ de la crème of the society and polo enthusiasts to a memorable fiesta.
The grand fiesta hosted by Guard Polo Club pitched teams from all major polo clubs across the country and after an exciting week of intensive campaign, the winners and the losers all joined in celebration, marking this year’s Democracy Day Anniversary.
Senator Hadi Sirika powered Rubicon Aviation playing one of their best games, fought the battle of supremacy as they outpaced former champions, Kaduna Trappco to clinch the event’s biggest prize, the President Cup.
Playing their first major tournament this year, Suleiman Abubakar and his Trappco squad boosting Nigeria’s top rated Bello Buba and Idris Badamasi struck first and were on their way to achieving their second President Cup title, until Rubicon powers ahead with a brace from Malik Badamasi, for Rubicon’s 5-3 victory.
The President’s Cup was a dingdong affair with Trappco starting on the front foot as they took the game to their opponents and immediately recorded a goal seconds into the first chukka through Rabiu Mohammed (+2).
Abdulmalik Badamasi (+3) leveled scores for Rubicon seconds after the start of the second chukka, but Bello Buba (+4), the country’s best polo player added a second goal for Trappco to go ahead 2 - 1 at the end of the second chukka.
Rubicon’s Jamilu Mohammed (+3) scored the only goal in the third chukka as he restored parity for his side to set the stage for a pulsating and nail-biting encounter.
Trappco’s Idris Badamasi (+3) added a goal to regain the lead for his side immediately the play resumed in the fourth chukka but his brother Abdulmalik quickly responded to make it 3-3.
Abdulmalik’s brace sparked up a frenzy as Rubicon began to assert their dominance, taking the game to their opponents as the visitor’s looked vulnerable for the first time in the game.
The pressure yielded dividends for Rubicon as Ahmadu Umar (+2) and Jamilu Mohammed combined to score two late goals for Sen. Hadi Sirika’s team to prove Rubicon’s supremacy as they lifted the most coveted cup of the tournament.
“Losing the President Cup to Rubicon was quite unlucky, because we have all desire to retain the prize this year. As sportsmen, we have taken the defeat in good faith and hailed the winners for their luck,” declared Trappco striker, Bello Buba.
“We may have lost the title by the whiskers, but we are quite happy with our game. We may not have won the cup, but we certainly won thousands of heart and that is an important achievement that would fire us on throughout the season and beyond,” Nasiru Yusuf, a staunch fan of Trappco pointed out.
“It was a befitting event to celebrate our much cherish democracy and I want to thank all the winners for their sportsmanship and dedication. I’m particularly happy for the participating teams for making the event a great success,” declared Musty Junaidu who doubles as Rubicon captain and First Vice Chairman Guards Polo Club.
In the other finals, Kaduna Tila defeated ASI Polo team 3-2 at the end of a penalty shoot out to lift the Guards Brigade trophy.
Also, it was a very close contest in the final of the Legislative Shield as YBL Farms defeated Susplan Polo team 3-2 at the end of a penalty shoot out.
Elena Leticia Mikosimski, Acting Head of Mission, Embassy of Argentina, rep. of the Argentine Ambassador who spoke to newsmen on the sidelines of the event noted that the quality of the tournament was second to none, adding that the country’s players were capable of competing with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
She heaped praises on the organisers of the tournament, noting that the Guards Polo Club, Abuja was one of the most beautiful polo grounds anywhere in the world.