EL-Amin/Aso Saving excites fans at Patrons Cup

The second edition of the African Patrons Cup Polo Tournament, which climaxes today in Kaduna, will go down as the most competitive polo event in recent years, with 10 teams going neck-to-neck in their quest for the continental honours.

One side that has thrilled the teeming polo enthusiasts since the event galloped off last Wednesday is EL-Amin/Aso Savings & Loans team. Both EL-Amin and Aso Savings are two of the most popular names in the annals of Nigerian polo. While Aso Savings earns its pride of place as a committed sponsor of the noble game of kings, loaning its corporate image to Kangimi Resort as the major corporate backer of this event, EL-Amin are the kings of the Nigerian polo, thanks to their numerous conquests, which set them apart from other teams.

Exciting dimension

Their coming together in their quest to win the prestigious African Patrons Cup title, has added an exciting flavour and passion that will dominate discourse across major polo centres for a long time to come. Parading their usual formation of Aminu Alhaji, Bello Buba, Mohammed Babangida and their Argentine professional, the Aso Boys were clinical in their impressive runs and outstanding in their turn out.

Friday and Saturday were particularly special for the Kangimi Resort regulars and the teeming polo enthusiasts, as they were cheered by the crowd, pulling EL-Amin/Aso Saving in their group games against Fifth Chuker and DeeBee Farms.

Rubicon living up to billing

Another team that has shown great sense of purpose and strength of character. despite playing the Patron event for the first time. is the Lagos Rubicon. The Hadi Sirika-led squad which is still on a high after its back-to-back triumphs in Katsina and Yola, were quite entertaining.

Boasting the likes of Sirika, Ahmadu Umar, Jamilu Mohammed and Ibrahim Rambo Mohammed, the hitman of EL-Amin, the aviation boys have left no one in doubt that they were not in Kaduna to admire the beauty of Kangimi.

The African Patrons Cup is a continental polo fiesta featuring 10 equally matched teams that are locked in a week-long cutting edge polo action to decide who wears the crown as the continent's best polo kings.

It is the huge success story of the Charity Shield, which was inaugurated alongside the African Masters in 2003, that gave birth to the African Patrons Cup that has corporate firms jostling to sponsor and professional players across the continents eagerly awaiting invitations.

Unlike the Charity Shield, which has for the past six years been raising funds to help UNICEF in its campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic among Nigerian children, the African Patrons Cup aims to bring polo to the corporate world and the public.

The event aims to draw support for the game through opening its vast marketing opportunity to all, and offering everyone the chance to experience this thrilling game.

Other participating teams, each led by their patrons, are the defending champions: Fifth Chukker, Tavia/Trojan, MRS, DeeBee Farms, Trafigura/Linetrale,

Lagos Rubicon, Hajara Farms, Lagos Carveton and Ghana XEX. All the teams gave good account of themselves ahead of this evening's final game.