EL-Amin’s Buba Tops Latest Nigerian Polo Ranking

Nigeria’s polo super star and Kaduna EL-Amin chief predator, Bello Buba remains the nation’s numeruo uno in the latest polo ranking recently released by the games’ ruling authority, the Nigerian Polo Federation, (NPF).
The much awaited ranking which was made public at the just concluded Niger Delta ‘2012 Polo Festival in the Rivers State capital city, Port Harcourt, saw the Kaduna based star maintaining his status as the highest handicap player in the country.
Though he was brought down to four goals from his five goal rating by the powerful Handicapping Committee of the NPF, Buba still reign on as the best four goal player in Nigeria.
Before the recent evaluation by the highly conservative committee which is the sole authority to rank Nigerian polo players, the highly acclaimed Buba has occupied the top spot as Nigeria’s only five goal player for almost five years.
His only opposition had come from his kid brother, Hamisu Buba who shoved him aside to occupied the hot spot momentarily for a year, before Bello who has been playing high-goal polo with the reigning Nigerian champions, Kaduna EL-Amin for over a decade now, stormed back to reclaim his position.

With international exposures in his kitty, including the recently concluded polo World Cup playoffs in Malaysia, the Dubai Gold Cup and other numerous outings in Argentina and Europe, it looks like the Jos born legend may well maintain the apex ranking for sometimes to come.
In all, about ninety polo players drawn from all the affiliates and associate clubs of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) were affected during the recent evaluation whose result has been forwarded to the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) for necessary notifications and ratifications.
Apart from confirming Buba as Nigeria’s best player at four goals, the Dawule Baba’s led committee also brought other players ranging from +4-+1 one step down from their previous ratings, in what is being hailed as a bold attempt by the NPF to make Nigerian teams more competitive at international events.
With the latest ranking, Nigeria now has about eight three goals players which include Hamisu Buba, Jamilu Mohammed, Mamuda Shehu, Ibrahim Mohammed and Dawule Baba who remains Nigeria’s most experienced player and the National team coach.
National Team Manager and NPF Secretary, Mohammed kyari lead the list of two goal players that includes, Kaduna Polo Club captain, Ali Hassan, Ibrahim Babangida, Ibrahim Abba, Rabiu Mohammed, Aminu Gagare, Usman Idris, Ado Madawaki and NPF Ex-Officio, Prince Umar Kabir.
Those who lose their two goals rating include Abba M.T Usman, Musa Yahaya, Aminu Alhaji, Musty Junaid, Mukhtar Adahama, Prince Sanusi Kabir, NPF Vice President, Bashir Yar’Adua, Kashim Bukar, Shehu Lawal Kaita and Aliyu Sambo.
The Handicapping Committee last sitting which also elevated a number of players, was chaired by the NPF President, Francis Ogboro,
Those elevated latest ranking exercise include, a member of the Nigerian World Cup team, Malik Badamasi who was moved from +1 to 2 and patron of the trail blazing Safaz Shelter polo team, Shuaibu Zakari who was moved to zero.
Other elevated players are the promising Asharaf Yahaya from Yola who moved from +1 to 2, Lado Aliyu, Bashir Hadejia, Baba Isa Kyari, Bashir Musa Mambu, Ben Garba, Ibrahim Kontagora, Prince Aminu Abdulmumuni, Hassan Shehu and Abba Kangiwa.
The list also include Mike Ogolo, Kabiru Bayo, Baba Shehu, Abu Sani Makama, Ibrahim Musa, Ibrahim Mohammed, Aminu Muazu, Umaruo Modibbo, Shauibu Danladi, Ibrahim Zakari, Khalifa Adams who was the first beginner to win the EL=Amin Cup cash prize as Best Beginner.
The need to review players’ handicap across board came to the fore at the World Cup Playoffs in Malaysia where Nigeria, who returned to the global stage after over twenty years of absence, had to give out handicap goals to more experience countries like South Africa, Pakistan who finished the event as runner-up to India.