Mohammed Banagida (with Green Helmet) leading his EL-Amin team in the IBB Cup final against Kaduna Profile. EL-Amin defeated Profile to retain the prestigious IBB Cup.

Minna Polo Champions, EL-Amin pose with the Emir of Minna HRH ALhaji (Dr.) Bahago after the presentation ceremony at the IBB Sports Complex in Minna.

Minna Polo’2012: EL-Amin Maintain Supremacy, Retains IBB Cup

Minna Polo’2012: EL-Amin Maintain Supremacy, Retains IBB Cup
No other sporting event captures the imagination of the societal elites like the noble game of polo. Ever since the king of games hits the shores of Nigeria over a century ago, the galloping game has constantly grown in popularity and pomp.
The just concluded Minna’2012 Annual Polo Tournament that remains one of the major events on the annual calendar of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), truly lived up to this noble billings, as the most popular annual sporting fiesta in Niger State.
Rich in splashing colours, top class competition, unparallel excitement and hosted by the Niger State Government, that grand event pitching most of the biggest names in Nigerian polo and an impressive assemblage of teams from across the country, was unique in many ways.
On and off the pitch, the week-long galloping showdown that boost a crowded social events,  maintained its high profile tradition, as Kaduna and host Minna teams swept major titles at stake, leaving Katsina, Zaria and the Police teams to settle for the crumbs.
After five days of bumper-to bumper campaign for honours, the prestigious Minna annual polo extravaganza climaxed with fanfare as defending champions, EL-Amin outpaced all comers to keep their treasured IBB Cup title.
As in all high stake polo competitions in the country, the fight was always going to be a nerve wrecking battle, but the teeming Minna polo buffs were never in doubt as to the destination of their treasured IBB Cup, that pitted perpetual champions, EL-Amin and the ambitious Kaduna Profile team.
They were not disappointed as their heroes; EL-Amin defeated the hard fighting Profile to win their twelve IBB Cup title in sublime campaign that bore the hallmark of their attacking flare that has earned them many top polo laurels within and outside the country.
Parading their hit squad complete with Aminu Alhaji, Bello Buba, Ibrahim Mohammed and their patron, Mohammed Babangida, the invincible EL-Amin out paced their Kaduna profile opponents to keep their treasured IBB Cup and added the General Abdulsalami Cup in a show of supremacy.
Their patron, Mohammad Babangida who doubles as the Tournament Chairman was truly at home scoring a sudden death goal against the compact Katsina Gobarau to give Minna Talban team their first ever Governor’s Cup title.
To cap an impressive double victory, Babangida was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the prestigious Minna’2012 tournament, just as his EL-Amin were honoured for their decade long consistency as the kings of high-goal polo in Nigeria.
Perhaps it is true to add that it was Babangida’s pivotal role with Minna Talban squad parading Lawal Yakubu Jaji, Umar Nagogo and Ali Hassan that motivated MInna Jamila Farm booting Abu Sani Makama, Alhassan Aliyu and Ahmadu Yakubu to clinch Senator Idris Kuta Cup, the second major title for the host.
The IBB Sports Complex, venue of the glamorous sponsors by corporate firms and supported by individuals like MTN, Unity Bank, Profile Technologies, Dantata & Sawoe Construction,  General IBB, General Abdulsalami and PDP Niger State Chapter among others, was always full to capacity as the battles for the coveted Emir of Minna and the General Hassan Katsina cups rages.
Two arch rivals showed up for the Emir’s prize and at the end, it was Katsina Danmarina dominated by princes Aminu Abdulmumuni Kabir and Huseini Kabir that edged Kaduna Mailanbu parading Adamu Usman, Hayatou Abba, Ibrahim Babangida and Lado Aliyu, to the crown.
The Police who had arrived Minna on high, to defend their General Hassan Cup were shocked in the final after defeating a crowded field of ten teams to clinch their final berth. In what was the biggest upset of Minna’2012 polo, Kaduna Malali emerged from the wood work to shock bookmakers with a surprise General Hassan Cup victory.
Parading Nasiru Yusuf, Hussaini Ahmadu, Abdullahi Lawal and Kabiru Saidu, the Kaduna warriors who defeated three other Kaduna rivals on their way to the final, pulled the rugged off the feet of Danladi Mohammed, Ibrahim Musa, CSP Aliyu and Abdurahman Mohammed, to snatch the General Hassan Cup from the Police Strikers.
The campaign for the Talban Minna Cup was a straight one as Umar Nagogo, Alhassan Aliyu, Danjuma Abdullahi and Ibrahim Musa in Unity Bank colours out paced Dantata & Sawoe quartet of Abubakar Sani, Suleiman Shema, Aminu Alhaji and Ahmadu Bahago to win the glittering prize.
Off the pitch, Governor Babangida Aliyu who is the President of the Minna Polo Club pledged to improve on the facilities at the club and repositioned Minna polo to compete favourably with other major polo clubs like Kaduna, Lagos and Port Harcourt, among others.
The Niger State Chief Servant who hosted the polo contingent to a reception at the Government House and fallow up with a grand dinner, raised about  N9million from donations including the N5million Sponsorship fees by MTN, for the construction of stabling facilities and Grooms Quarters at the Minna polo club ground.
It was an exciting week of top class polo played out at its traditional venue under the most    friendly atmosphere you can find anywhere in the land. And at the end of the historic event that attracted the top echelon of the society, the biggest winner was polo the noble king of sports that boost rich history in Nigeria spanning over 108 years.

Rubicon Patron, Senator Hadi Sirika receiving his prize during the PresentationCeremony of the Unity Polo in Abuja

Unity Polo: Rubicon Powers Abuja to Titles Sweep

The cosmopolitan city of Abuja, the nation’s Centre of Unity, celebrated one of its grandest moments, hosting the prestigious National Unity’2012 Polo Tournament, which came to colourful climax recently.

Expectedly, Abuja’2010 rumble that was in its third edition was a befitting event to celebrate Nigeria’s march to strengthen our hard earned democracy, as the serene polo centre treat the creame’ de la creame of the society and polo enthusiasts to a memorable fiesta.

The grand fiesta which hosted by Guard Polo Club under the auspices of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) pitched teams from all major polo clubs across the country and after an exciting week of intensive campaign, the winners and the losers were all join in celebration in marking this year’s Democracy Day Anniversary.

Senator Hadi Sirika powered Kano Titans playing one of their best games, fought the battle of supremacy as they outpaced Honourable Dimeji Bankole Foundation and Honourable  Al;iyu Wadada’s Keffi Ponys to clinch the event’s biggest prize, the President Cup.

Titans parading their “Hird Assassin” Gonzalo Bourdieu, Idris Babamasi, Jamilu Mohammed and Senator Sirika, Rubicon edged out debuting Bankole Foudation in their opening game, before  defeating the re-enforced Keffi Ponys boosting Honourable Aliyu Wadada, Hamisu Buba, the high flying Argentine Diego White and Ali hassan in a grudge final to emerge champions.

Bankole Foundation who are eyeing the prestigious President Cup, were the proud winners of the Democracy Cup. Parading the former Speaker, Bankole, Malik Badamasi and the South African duo of Lance and Brett Watson, Bankole and his boys were stretched to the limit before they could edge Keffi Ponys 7-61/2 to clinch their maiden polo title.

It was a befitting event to celebrate our much cherish democracy and I want to thank all the winners for their sportsmanship and dedication. I’m particularly happy for Bankole Foundation and Keffi Ponys for their fighting spirits, and other winners for making the event a great success,” declared Senator Hadi Sirika who doubles as the Guards Polo Club Chairman.

The race for the medium and low goals titles were no less intense and at the end, it was host Abuja and Kaduna that dominated the winners’ podium, leaving Katsina to sweep two runners-up titles.

Udeme Etim playing only his second major tournament after his debut with the Nigerian Navy team in Port Harcourt last January and Tournament Manager, Ben Garba who distinguished themselves, were adjudged the Most Improved Players of the tournament.

 The highly sort after Guards Brigade Trophy sets up an unforgettable final pitting Tunde Akande’s Honda Resources against Unity bank team led by the Captain of Guards Polo Club, Mustapha Junaid, in a four chukka winners-takes –all battle.

At the end of the local derby, it was Unity bank quartet of Hakeem Shagaya, Abdulmalik Badamasi, Ibrahim Mohammed and skipper Junaid outpaced Nura Suleiman, Kabiru Saidu, Idris Badamasi and the hard fighting Akande to win the medium-goal prize.

“Abuja teams have been consistently pushing for all the main prizes on offer in the capital city for three years now and we are not surprise at this year’s result because we are a committed and disciplined players which makes it difficult for our opponents to beat us,” declared Junaid who won Legislative Shield, his second title of the event, with Abuja RTC team.

Visiting Kaduna and Katsina who had dominated the last two editions of the Unity Polo tournament were faced with a determined Abuja teams and new entrants Zaria who combined to checkmate them. With host Abuja sweeping most of the titles, Katsina’s consolation was the FCT Minister’s Cup which they defeated Safaz Shelters to win, while Baba Kyari’sled Salbina gave Kaduna their only title beating Abuja AITEO to wear the Gen. T Y Danjuma cup crown.

With a record six teams arsenal, the Eleyele polo lords were confident of retaining the Ade Alakija Cup and wrestling the Rotimi Cup from the strangle hold of visiting Kano and Lagos.

 Safaz who are still basking in the euphoria of winning the Emir of Zazzau Cup on first attempt at the recently concluded Zaria international tournament, may have failed to add the glittering Democracy Shield to their overcrowded trophy shelf, but won an emotional victory beating their arch rivals, Albarak Raiders in their second game of the Unity event.

The week-long polo extravaganza was a real thrill with plenty excitement and candor particularly in the low-goal Guards Challenge Cup race that pitted three equally matched teams from Abuja who were all poised to showcase their skills to their local fans.

Awwal Ibrahim led Rubicon (2) parading Nasir Lukat, Aliyu Umar and Aliyu Abubakar had taken the lead in the challenge cup race defeating Udeme Etim’s pivoted Abuja Sadabi team in their opening game, sbefore extending their lead with another win over Ben Garba’s led AERO Contractors.

However, the table was turn against them in the final, as Jamil Dawodu’s UAC Properties squad boosting the ever reliable Adamu Usman, Danlami Lawal and Muktar Adhama secured a narrow 5-4 win to snatch the Guards Challenge Cup title.

“As sportsmen we have taken the slim defeat in good faith and hail the winners for their luck,” declared Ibrahim who doubles as the Security Member of the high profile Guards Polo Club.

Polo Captain, Junaid who swept two major titles, described the event as the most exciting and the most attended polo tournaments in Abuja in the last three years. He salutes all the visiting players and the teeming polo enthusiasts for making the glamorous fiesta such a huge success.

Tournament Manager, Ben Garba who confirmed apart from using the tournament to mark the Democracy Day anniversary, the prestigious event that attracted guest and visitors from around the country and beyond, was dedicated to support the Global Initiative for Love and Care charity organization.

 “We are particularly indebted tour numerous sponsors like the Unity Bank, Aero Contractors, UACN, AITEO, AMG PetroEnergy, Rubicon Aeronautics, Dantata & Sawoe, Tak Continental, Bankole Foundation, Porshe Centre, Simba Group, among for their unflinching support which ensures the successful hosting of this international polo tournament,” Garba added.