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.