National polo tour gallops–off ahead of festive season
The national polo tour is set to wind up the 2018 season in Jos and gallopoff 2019 in the Garden City of Port Harcourt ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Preparations for the year ending Jos Winter polo started some months back with the Jos carnival and organizers are upbeat that there will be plenty of high goal activity as the annual fiesta is dedicated platform for the restoration of peace in the Plateau.
While the “Peace Tournament in the Plateau State capital city is billed from last weekend of December, 2018 to early January, 2019, the President of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Captain Iyene Amapakabo has exclusively hinted Polo Royals that the club is planning to make the 2019 edition of its annual tournament the best ever.
Amakapabo, who assured polo enthusiasts a grand New Year celebration in Rivers State, also disclosed that beyond the sport of polo, the week-long international fiesta would showcase the tourism potential and cultural heritage of entire Niger Delta region.
Former President and Tournament Manager, Victor Fingesi told Polo Royals on phone that most of the biggest patrons and top players have indicated their readiness to rumble during the event.
Polo Royals checks also reveals that apart from the expected patrons and polo teams drawn from major polo centers across the country, professionals from Europe, South Africa and Dubai will also participate in the tournament.
Last year, The Access Bank Cup final, decided before a surging crowd that included top government officials business icons, traditional rulers and diplomats was undoubtedly the star match of the weeklong polo fiesta.
It was Swiss international team parading two South Africans and two Nigerians who made history as the first ever winners of the glittering Access Bank Cup polo prize in Port-Harcourt, defeating their Old Mutual opponents 9-7 after an explosive five chukkas final confrontation.
Four traditional cups categories with General Hassan Cup, Access Bank Cup, President Cup and Governors Cup are on offer and participating teams would be locked in a weeklong battle royals to decide the winners of the Niger Delta polo festival.
As a Grade A international event, the biggest attraction of the Niger Delta Festival lies in its regional appeal, which for years has been the pride of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and host Rivers states.
The fact that polo enthusiasts from Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and neighbouring Imo and Abia states attend this festival annually in their thousands; attest to the immense tourism and social values of the exciting game of polo in the Niger Delta.
Before the pilgrimage to the oil rich Niger Delta in January, the polo world would feat in the chilly city of Jos with the Chief Host, the Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Simon Bako leading other stake holders to celebrate the noble game of kings.
Barrister Lalong, who is the Grand Patron of Jos polo club and a passionate polo buff, is positioning the annual event revered as the only winter polo tourney in the country, to restore peace and highlight the tourism potential of the Tin City.
Jos polo Chieftain and patron of the defending champions, Murtala Laushi who was recently elected the Scribe of the Nigerian Polo federation (NPF) assures Polo Royals that the foremost Joseph Comwalk Road polo ground in Jos is wearing new colours ahead of the event.
Jos Polo Captain, Yusuf Dauda disclosed that major prizes at stake are the Governor’s Cup which is the biggest reward, NASCO Cup, General Hassan Cup and President Cup, with enough low goal teams on hand for thrilling contest.
Dauda also confirmed that teams from Abuja, Yola, Zaria, Maiduguri, Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano and Keffi are listed for actions.
The hugely successful 2017Jos Peace Polo Tournament that hit Tin City with a bang was thrilling Xmas holiday experience, with Malcomines emerging overall champions, extending supremacy as the kings of Jos polo for the four years running.
The prestigious fiesta that further consolidate the return of peace to the state saw Murtala Laushi led Jos Malcomines defeating arch rival, Yola Fombina in a tense final, to defend the event’s biggest prize for the third times in a row.
Playing with the full complement of their patron and superior experiences of top rated Hamisu Buba Sadiq Garba, Murtala Aliyu and Laushi, the Miners ensure the title remains in Jos, easing through the eventual runner’s up, Yola Fombina boosting the likes of Aliyu Dahiru, Ashraf Yahaya, Hassan and Tanko Ayuba.