Abuja’s first polo tourney set to begin

Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, will, today, take its pride of place as a polo playing-city, when Guard Polo hosts the first ever polo tournament to be staged in the city.

According to organisers, Guards Polo and Royal Equestrian Club, the event is guaranteed to be a hit as six battle-ready teams are already on ground to thrill polo enthusiasts in a two-day display of skills.

Guards Polo club captain, Kepeh Kazir, a Lieutenant Colonel, said the tournament is being hosted as part of the ongoing Abuja Carnival.

“We are also using the tournament to let polo enthusiasts and the business community to know that after a long wait, Nigeria’s capital city has a facility like the Guard Polo and Royal Equestrian Club that can comfortably host an international tournament of any magnitude.”

Big names coming

According to Kazir, the event will feature all the big names of Nigerian polo in a top class competition whose champion will make history as the first ever winner of a polo title in Abuja, and would be crowned with the glittering Abuja Carnival Polo Cup.

The high impact tournament that is to attract polo buffs from across the country and beyond, will feature such big polo names like Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives; Dawule Baba, Nigeria’s polo ambassador; Mohammed Babangida; and Tajudeen Dantata.

Others include Parliamentarians Hadi Sirika, Ibrahim Ballah, Aliyu Wadada, Sabo Nakudu and Suleiman Abubakaras well as Adama Laka, Ibrahim Abba, Muktar Adahama, Akande.

The tournament, which is planned to become an annual event, will also feature a selected group of upcoming players like Abdulmumuni Musa, Gidado Abdullahi, Shuaibu Bukka, Abdulwaheed Mua’zu and other Abuja based players.

The chairperson of the event’s planning committee, Mohammed Yerima, said the games would be interesting.

“Our pitch is in top shape and the location of the Guards Polo and Royal Equestrian Club remains a tourist’s delight. Those would be part of this historic event are guaranteed a most exciting and the most memorable time in Abuja,” Yerima said.

He said the Abuja polo fiesta is supported by the Nigerian Army and the Federal Capital Territory as well as individuals like Bankole and others who have contributed money and materials available to ensure its success.

Expected to watch matches at the tournament are traditional rulers to be led by the Sultan of Sokoto; Senate President, David Mark; state governors; members of the National Assembly; corporate groups and many polo fans.

The Nigerian Army delegation to the champioship will be led by the Chief of Army Staff, Abdurrahman Danbazau.

The Nigerian Army has remained one of the pillars in the promotion of the game, with its team participating in all Nigerian Polo Federation organised tournaments across the country.

Five years ago, it organized and hosted the first ever World Military Polo Tournament at the Fifth Chukker Resort in Kaduna.

The historic event that featured the United States of America and Great Britain saw a Nigerian team finishing third behind South Africa and the event’s winners, India.