Argungu Festival: NSK- Maltina, GB Foods rule Polo Event
020 Argungu Fishing & Cultural International Polo Tournament ended with pomp and pageantry in Kebbi State and has been lauded as one of the biggest and the most exciting polo festival in the country.
Minister of Information & Culture Lai Mohammed, and Amayanabo of Brass, King Diette Spiff, led the roll call of dignitaries heaping accolades on Nura Kangiwa and his NSK Polo Farms, for hosting the annual fiesta that truly reflects the revered heritage of the sport of kings.
Others who took turns to express their delights on the high level of competitions and the awesome skills displayed by the participants during the international event, include the
President of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), Francis Ogboro, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Bagudu and host emir of Argungu, His Royal Highness, Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera.
The minister, the governors and the traditional rulers all hailed the Turaki Kebbi for organizing and hosting polo event that pushes Kebbi State and the fishing festival to new frontiers in tourism.
They were particularly happy at the sportsmanship and discipline of the players during the polo fiesta at NSK Polo Farm as part of major highlights of the prestigious Argungu Fishing & Cultural Festival that returned with a splash after eleven years of absence,
Both Dandarman Kabi and Alhaji I Francis Ogboro and King Spiff who is a Trustee of Port Harcourt Club hailed the commitment of participating players in the tournament that attracted established names across the country, led by Nigeria’s toprated professional, Bello Buba and his younger brother Hamisu Buba.
They both noted the pioneering role of Nura kangiwa in establishing the NSK Polo Farm in Argungu and his enduring commitment with the noble game that has positively impacted the promotion of the game around the country.
Ogboro told Polo Royals that the unequalled involvement of Kangiwa in the promotion of the King of Games and tourism in Argungu, Kebbi State over the years, has helped in redirecting the energies of the youths and engage them positively.
Overwhelmed by the accolades, Kangiwa, commended Kebbi State government, Emir of Argngu, Maltina, Walcot Rice, GB Foods, and other sponsors and partners for their immense support to the NSK Polo Farm over the years.
He stated that having gained the reputation as the biggest polo tournament in the NorthWestern part of the country, NSK polo tournaments look forward to delivering great values for the sponsors and participants during the during its tournaments.
The glamorous polo event stage alongside other events like Motor Rally, Durbar, Agricultural Expo and loads of traditional displays and the spectacular fishing festival, climaxed on high with NSK Maltina team-leading others to clinch major prizes.
Spurred on by Bello, the rampaging Maltina squad that boosted capable hands likes Nura Kangiwa, Lado Aliyu and Sarki Waziri overhaul Walcot team parading Hamisu Buba Tank Ayuba, Abdulwahab Sani Stores and Nura Suleiman to clinch the biggest prize, the President Cup.
The loss of the President Cup played in honour of Muhammadu Buhari who played a pivotal role throughout the weeklong fishing festival, did not deter the ambitious Walcot warriors as they powered on to win the Sokoto Government Cup.
The duo of Abba Kangiwa and Umar Karlgo powered GB Foods team to lift the coveted Governor Bagudu Cup, just as JRB Solar team from the Zazzau Kingdoms parading Abdulkarim Jibril, Danmakwayon Zazzau, Sarkin Malaman Zazzau and Ibrahim Kure, won the glittering Mei Baale Cup played in honour of the Emir of Bada HRH Abubakar Ibn Umar Suleiman.
Other top winners, the glamorous polo festival include the upcoming Lamido Nayelwa team that clinches the high sort after Emir of Argungu Cup, their first-ever polo prize at the NSK Polo Ground, and the Awulu Baba pivoted Bilya Bawale team that smiled home with the Amayanabo Brass Cup.
Bello Buba who was named the Most valuable player of the tournament salutes the organizers for allowing the players to participate in the polo event of the UNESCO recognized international event like the Argungu Fishing Festival.
“We haven’t had this feeling for a while now, it’s a while since we last witnessed the fishing festival, so are proud to be part of its, and our victory in the polo tournament is well deserved,” Buba told Polo Royals in an exclusive chat.
“We knew the final game would be tough. They (Walcott team) deserve to be there in the final, they played hard and we knew they would come out firing at us. We had a bit of a hard start, but we got there in the end,” he added.
The NPF Boss, Ogboro, who superintends over the closing ceremony led other top dignitaries to give out the prizes and individual awards to the winners during the prize-giving ceremony that brought the curtain of another spectacular NSK Polo Farm outing, the first to be stage as part of the reputable Argungu Fishing Festival.