Billed to commence on Wednesday at the magnificent lawns of Fifth Chukker Polo Resort in Kaduna, the African Patrons Cup is a continental polo fiesta featuring 10 equally matched teams in a week-long cutting edge polo action to decide who wears the crown as Africa's best polo king.
It has been one year of preparations leading to this clash and the last two weeks has been intense, as participating teams picked their final list for the battle. One question has been on the lips of African polo fans and it is: which patron owns Africa's best polo team?
The continental fiesta pits tough and unyielding sides like the defending champions, Fifth Chukker Tavia/Trojan; Rubicon Aeronautics; Ghana XEX; and EL-Amin/IBTC. Others are MRS Oil & Gas,
Carveton Helicopters, Trafigura/Linetrale, DeeBee Farms, and Katsina Hajara Farms.
Of the 10 ambitious contenders, heavily armed with players at their peak and enough horsepower to start military insurgency, five are debutants while the rest are in the continental challenge for the second time.
Top of the Pick Matches
There is no shortage of surprises in this winners-take-all polo combat.
EL-Amin/IBTC, DeeBee Farms, and Rubicon may be playing their first African Patrons Cup tournament, but they have the experience and needed chemistry to give regulars like Fifth Chukker, Tavia/Trojan, and MRS a good run for their money.
Visiting XEX, parading Michael Mahama, Adamu Atta, Ed. George and Buster Mackenzie; or the Rubicon side boosting the likes of Hadi Sirika, Ahmadu Umar, Jamilu Mohammed and Ibrahim Rambo Mohammed are not in Kaduna to admire the beauty of Kangimi.
Any team, which decides to ignore the fighting spirit of Bashir Yar'adua, Tijani Hassan, Hamisu Buba and Mamuda Shehu in Hajara Farms colour or the ruggedness of Trafigura/Linetrale quartet of Damian Duncan, Musty Fashinro and the Pascual duo of Marcelo and Martin from Argentina, will pay dearly for it.
The opening game of the championship which is to start on Wednesday, October 28, promises to be a thriller as Tavia/Trojan unleashes Ayo Olasoju, Musty Fashinro, Santiago and George Sanardas from Argentina against title holders, Fifth Chukker boasting Kashim Bukar, Subu Done, Diego White and Babangida Hassan.
Sayyu Dantata's MRS, winners of the Charity Shield last June are to begin their challenge on the second day in the second game of the day, shortly after Trafigura\Linetrale clash.
The quartet of Sayyu, Bashir Dantata (Jnr.) Selby Williamson and Bashir Musa, must dig deep into their arsenal against the hugely experienced DeeBee Farmers parading Eric Genei, Jibo Garba, Dawule Baba and Adamu Yaro in the star game of the second day.
EL-Amin/IBTC will take to the Kangimi Lawns against Fifth Chukker on Friday, October 30, and conclude their back-to-back group game against DeeBee Farm the following day.
Against the assassin
Trusting in their usual squad of Aminu Alhaji, Bello Buba, and their long shooting Mohammed Babangida, EL-Amin/IBTC warriors have all it takes to go all the way in the grand event to be handled by professional Umpires from the United Kingdom. Caverton Helicopters who are taking on debutants, Katsina Hajara Farms are returning with the same squad that painfully missed the title last year. With the quartet of Bode Makanjuola, Rotimi Makanjuola, Benjamin Araya and Francisco Irastorza, Caverton are poised for a fine run this time around.
The group games are scheduled to be concluded on Saturday with four crowd pulling crackers, which would decide the group leaders to vie for the ultimate prize on the final day, while the groups' runners-up would battle for the third place finishers in the classification final.
The final game will be before a packed arena on Sunday, November 1, 2009, after a colourful Prize Presentation and closing ceremonies.
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