Gov. Bello, Babangida assures on Minna’2018 Polo Festival
Governor Abubakar Bello has joined the growing ranks of state governors who have thrown their executive weights behind the king of games, as the Niger State capital city wears new looks ahead of its annual polo festival, the Minna ‘2018 Polo Tournament billed for July 15th-21st 2018.
The glamorous Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) sanctioned polo tour that is revered as one of the most exciting and competitive tours, is heading to the power state as teams from all the major polo centres across the country brace for the Minna’2018 annual polo fiesta.
Polo Royals reliably gathered that the polo-loving governor who recently accepted and assumed his responsibility as the Patron of the Minna Polo Club is pulling stops to ensuring that the “Power State” hosts one of the most memorable and the most exciting polo tournaments in the country this year.
Minna Tournament Committee Chairman, Mohammed Babangida confirmed that Niger State is set to host the glamorous polo fiesta which remains the biggest sporting event on a yearly basis and one of the most attended polo tournaments in the country.
According to the tournament committee, Minna 2018 promises to be a hotly contested tournament as all the major polo teams across the country, have indicated their readiness to compete for honours during the prestigious event.
He also disclosed that over twenty teams from Abuja, Port Harcourt, Katsina, Kaduna, Yola, Bauchi, Jos, Zaria, Keffi and host Minna, are all battle ready to jostle for top honours during the weeklong polo extravaganza that.
Backed by the Niger State government and a consortium of blue-chip firms like El-Amin Limited, Unity Bank Plc, Profile Security, Dantata & Sawoe, Dangote Group, and prominent individuals among others, the Minna tournament promises to be the biggest in years.
Babangida said four major trophies and a dozen selected prizes would be at stake during the six-day event. He gave the names of the trophies as Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB Cup), the tournament’s biggest trophy, the Governor’s Cup, Emir of Minna Cup and General Hassan Usman Katsina Cup.
Other selected trophies to be competed for includes the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Cup, General M.I. Wushishi Cup, Ahmadu Bahago Memorial Cup, Talban Minna Cup, Senator Idris Ibrahim Cup, Veterans’ Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, General Gado Nasko Cup and the Beginners Cup.
The patron of EL-Amin polo organization thanked the Niger State government for support and encouragement to the polo club, said that special awards would be given out to Most Valuable Player, Most Disciplined Team, Most Improved Player Award, Best Turnout Team, Best Groom, Best Playing Pony and Patron of the Year.
Apart from the traditional rivals from Kaduna, Abuja, Katsina, Port Harcourt, Bauchi and Yola, who are currently camping on the outskirts of Minna in readiness to rekindle their face-offs in the weeklong fiesta, others are quietly bracing to upstage the tradition and leave their footprints at the IBB Sports Complex, venue of the event.
Clubs like Zaria, Maiduguri and Sokoto, three of the latest additions to the growing NPF family are packaging strong squads, with the aim of making big splashes and creating a huge impression in their quest for honours.
Minna Polo Secretary, Alhaji Aminu Salisu, and Polo Captain, Jamilu King told Polo Royals that Niger State capital city is looking forward to one of its grandest moments, as everything is on the ground for an exciting week of polo festival. The Tournament Committee, which has been working hard to give polo a big boost in the state, says thousands of polo enthusiasts from Abuja, Suleja, Mokwa, Bida, Abuja, Kaduna, Ilorin, Kontogora and Lokoja are expected throng the state in droves for the glamorous fiesta. Minna Polo Club was founded in 1972 by the Late Senator (Dr.) Idris Kuta, AIG Ahmed Bello and Late Brig. Gen. Remawa. Polo was first played in Minna on the present U.K Bello Theater site, where the first Polo Club House is sited and was later transferred to its present site at IBB Sports Complex.
The club became dormant for 10 years (1977 to 1987) and was revived once again by the Late Senator (Dr.) Idris Kuta. Minna Polo Club is one of three Grade C Members of the NPF.
The support and collective efforts of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, the former governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON and His Royal Highness, Alhaji Farouk Bahago OFR, the Emir of Minna; have ensured the popularity of the king sports in the State.