Eyes on El-Amin, Fifth Chukkers, Malcomines at Kaduna polo fiesta
The much-anticipated 2024 Kaduna International Polo Tournament is already on us with over 40 teams expected from across the country bracing for another titanic quest for laurels as the prestigious festival celebrates another epoch.
The President of Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, said the event earlier scheduled for the last weekend of October was shifted due the outbreak of the dreaded African Horse Disease in the northern part of the country
Already, all Nigeria’s biggest high-goal teams led the thirteen times winners, EL-Amin, and others are perfecting strategies ahead of what would unarguably be the toughest and the most competitive Kaduna polo in decades.
The prestigious tournament, which is one of the most competitive polo events in the country, will for the first time in its 105 years history be decided over two weeks of thrills and excitement at the legendary Murtala Muhammed Square Polo Grounds in Kaduna.
Babangida further hinted those foreign professionals from Argentina, Europe and South Africa are expected to jostle for top honours alongside top Nigerian polo patrons and players.
Assuring an unprecedented added value to sponsors, players and enthusiasts, Babangida said that Kaduna ‘2024 polo promises to be one of the exciting in years as the club is working around the clock to deliver on all fronts.
“The tournament committee has gone the extra mile to build in some notable innovations that would deliver good value for money and time to our esteemed sponsors, special guests and thousands of polo buffs and tourists, who will be part of the grand festival,” he added.
Vice President and Chairman Organizing Committee, General Kapeh Kazir, also disclosed that the festival will feature teams jostling for the Georgian Cup that would be marking its 105th years of competition, Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup and the glittering EL-Amin Cup as the major prizes at stake.Related News
He explained further that the highly revered Emir of Katsina Cup and Imani Cup would take centre stage during the second and the concluding week of the 2024 Kaduna polo carnival that offers a lot of innovative incentives and social activities both on and off the pitch throughout the fiesta.
Preparations for the fiesta dedicated to celebrate the Georgian prize, will hits its crescendo with the hosting of the traditional Cheque Presentation Night were corporate giants, state governments partners and individual donors usually renew their commitments, raising millions of Naira to enable Kaduna Polo Club host a befitting polo festival that would deliver on all fronts.
Further checks revealed that participating teams are expected from Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Zaria, Sokoto, Abuja, Keffi, Bauchi, Minna, Jos, Yola, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri, alongside over fifteen Kaduna based teams.
General Kazir listed subsidiary prizes to be won during the weeklong polo fiesta include General Hassan Katsina Cup, Sardauna Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, Shehu Kangiwa Cup, Musa Yar’Adua Cup, Dangote Cup and Argentine Ambassador Cup, among others.
One corporate sponsor and institutional donor that has traditionally backed the annual polo festival for more than a century and counting is First Bank Nigeria Plc that retained its traditional sponsorship of the Georgian Cup presented in 1919, as the oldest and the most prestigious polo trophy in Africa.
Last year, the high profiles polo tournament that was highlighted by the debut of the Renewed Hope Cup, produced four proud champions topped by Kangimi Resort team winning their first Georgian Cup title in years and Kaduna Profile re-affirming their supremacy as the kings of Imani Cup.
The new trophy that was played in recognition of the ongoing efforts to restore peace and harmony within the Nigerian polo family, saw President Kaduna Polo Club leading a high-profile team of Senator Halilu Jika, Prince Aminu Abdulmumuni and Mohammed Sani Gote to victory against the quartet of Atiku Abubakar Salleh, Kashim Bukar, Abdulkarim Aminu and Bello Buba.
The 2023 Kaduna polo festival that celebrated its 104th anniversary, threw up promising youngsters like Amir Kapeh Kazir, Abdulrazak Jamilu Mohammed and the only female youngster, Tope Eniola from Ibadan, saw Kaduna teams sweeping all the major titles.
