Royals seal highlight 2017 Kaduna Polo fiesta
Rubicon, Fas Agro, Dattaku share top laurels
When the Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman and the Lamido Adamawa, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammedu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa opened and subsequently closed the 2017 edition of the prestigious Kaduna International Polo festival last weekend, their total commitment and active presence echoed an unmistakable message: Kaduna will remain one of the permanent homes of the continent’s biggest polo festivals.
For eight exciting days, Emir Usman and Lamido Adamawa played hosts to an ever effervescent crowd mingled with an impressive international cast at the Murtala Square Polo Ground venue to witness yet another scintillating display of top class polo by the cream of Nigeria’s most enterprising polo players.
The 2017 polo fiesta which is organized under the auspice of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) that is home to the oldest polo diadem in the world, the Georgian Trophy is revered as one of the premier polo tournament s in the continent, dating back to 1919.
It was in recognition of this legendary history that the royal fathers left the comfort of their palaces with the full compliments of their councils, to stamp their authorities as Kaduna marks its 99th edition with pomp, and what a royal parade it was.
Over 40 teams drawn from far flung cities like Port Harcourt, Katsina, Yola, Abuja, Minna, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zaria, Ibadan, Lagos and host Kaduna that paraded over ten teams in the glamorous festival, participated in the grand event.
At the end of what will remain one of the most contested Kaduna polo tournaments in years, it was the Abuja and Kano contingents that dominated the showdown, carting home three of the four major prizes at stake, while host Kaduna share the crumbs and the fallouts.
The glamorous international polo tournament that was over shadowed by series of wrangling saw the Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika and his Abuja Rubicon confirm their superiority, denying the Kaduna Polo Club powered Kakuri a share in the oldest polo trophy in the world, Georgian Trophy and the Sardauna Cup.
Team Rubicon (Hadi Sirika, Idris Badamasi, Manuel Crespo and Malik Badamasi) were dominance and merciless, spanking Kakuri 8-4 in a tense final game to win their second Georgian title since 2012, and the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup, adding the Sardauna Cup in a show of supremacy.
“We want to thank our teeming supporters for their trust and urging us on over the years. This is a great achievement that would motivate us in future, because winning the Georgian title take a lot of preparations, hard work, commitment and courage,” declared an elated Sirika.
However, the expected Abuja clean sweep was punctured by the determined Kano polo contingents as Murtala Dankaka powered his Kano Fas Agro to win the debuting Imani Cup and the Dangote Cup respectively, defeating Kaduna Dattaku and Jos Malcomines in fierce final games.
Engr. Sani Umar, who led a selected team to win the debuting Centenary Cup, led his Susplan engineers to a runner up finish in the Emir of Katsina Cup, while Kano BUA snatched the crowded El-Amin Cup to crown an impressive Kano campaign in Kaduna this year.
Abuja Rubicon won the Emir of Katsina Cup as well as General Hassan Cup, while Katsina Kangiwa clinches the late Kere Ahmed Cup to complete the exclusive list of 2017 kings of Kaduna polo. Murtala Aliyu and Abdullahi Sabo received the Best Player and the Most Improved player award respectively.
The Life Chairman of Nigerian Polo Federation ((NPF), HRH Emir of Katsina, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman, Lamido Adamawa, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa, representative of the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Kabiru Kashim and the Governor of Bauchi State gave out the prizes at a crowded prize presentation ceremony.