2019 Polo Season: Red Crown unfazed about national tour challenges
The captain and patron of Red Crown team, Samy Nasreddin has said with the backing of his sponsors, his team is poised to break new grounds with more victories as the season gathers momentum.
In a chat with Polo Royals, the Jos based team plans to vie for honours at the forthcoming Lagos and Ibadan tournament, before taking a break to prepare for the northern tour in May.
“After some much celebration over our sterling achievement in the Governor Cup chase, we in the red Crown team are incredibly excited going forward,” said the winners of the President Cup at the recently concluded Jos polo tournament, added.
“We are unfazed about how rough the drive would be given the expected competitions, as we are prepared for the needed hard work, opportunities and special moments that this year is going to bring.
“When it comes to the exciting game of polo, you certainly couldn’t get a more special moments than playing in front of your home crowd filled with family and friends and thousands of enthusiasts’ cheering you on…. the 2018 year ending fiesta was indeed a dream,” he told Polo Royals.
He appeal to polo patrons to give the up and coming players a chance to showcase their talents by mounting at tournaments, instead of hiring foreign players and expending huge scare resources on those who will add very little to the development of the noble game in Nigeria.
Red Crown pivot player, Usman Idris who congratulated his teammates and their fans for their frantic support said: “It was obviously very special victory for us and I want to say a big thank you to NASCO Group, Power House and others. They certainly lifted the team during the tournament and we appreciate everything they’ve done for us.”
The low-goal cup that pitted top rivals Yola, Bauchi and Katsina, saw the Samy Nasreddin led Red Crown parading the trio of Solomon Solo, Ahmed Illiyasu and Idris out pacing their Yola Yelwa opponents in a hotly contested final, to clinch the glittering President Cup on first attempt.
Over the past four decades and counting, NASCO Group which is domiciled in Plateau state, has consistently sponsored and supported the game of polo in Nigeria. So, their sponsorship of the Red Crown was another vista at upping the ante of that age long fraternity with the king of games.
The company in collaboration with the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) and Plateau state government share the same fundamental commitment towards sustainable peace building, engage, recreate, share, compete and exchange in atmosphere of love, respect and mutuality.
This partnership is guaranteed to bear more fruits as sports-tourism has increasingly become a major defining currency for the branding of cities and nations.
Jos polo tournament is therefore position to transform them into attractive destinations of choice; both for the adventurous tourists willing to travel and spend, and for foreign direct investments looking to identify and connect with infrastructure, utilities and services deals.
“Our goal is for the game of Polo to become a powerful factor for unity, peace and progress; between the young and old, and between and across all classes within our rich, diverse and populous country, Nigeria” declares NASCO Group Corporate Communication and Compliance Advisor of the firm, Barrister. Harroun Audu.
Audu maintained that NASCO’s commitment to unity and peace on the Plateau and other parts of the country is responsible for the unflinching support for the tournament which is becoming the most reputable polo competition locally and internationally.
Another upcoming Plateau based team whose exploits still lingers is the West African Mineral Trading team. The solid mineral marketers parade the likes of Nasiru Tabaco, Usman Idris, Abba Mohammed and top gun, Hamisu Buba, won the glittering NASCO Cup, defeating rivals, Jos Jengere side in a titanic final game.
The Red Crown and solid mineral Trading team victories was the icing on the cake for Jos polo buffs and a crowning moment for the host club that has now broken the jinx of sweeping all the major titles at stake, thanks of course to the commanding and consistence display of their flagship team and kings of polo in the plateau, Malcomines.
Special Guest of Honour at the weeklong polo fiesta and Plateau State Governor, Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, said the prestigious 2018 Annual Jos Polo Tournament was a further proof that peace has finally return to the chilly city of Jos and the entire state.
Lalong who was represented by the commissioner of Youths & Sports, Victor Lapang, reiterated government’s determination and willingness to invest more in polo game, to encourage the participation of youths in the sports.
“Sports bring together youth irrespective of tribe, religious and political differences, to interact together thereby fostering unity among the youths,” the governor stated in his closing remarks, before leading other dignitaries to present prizes to the winners and runners-up.