The MTN/Katsina International Polo Tournament that
galloped off the Nigerian polo season came to a memorable climax with host,
Katsina, Kaduna and Yola teams celebrating what is unarguably one of the most
exciting polo fiestas in Katsina for years.
The glamorous polo festival that is reputed for its
pomp and pageantry has been commended for its enduring legacies, has received
official thumps-up from the Emir of Katsina, HRH Dr. Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman
The Life Chairman of Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF)
singled out MTN for its upper ground in the development of the noble game polo
in Nigeria and beyond. He made this declarationin Katsina while hosting the NPF
chieftains, MTN officials and the participating players who paid him a courtesy
call in his palace.
Emir Kabir insisted that the unequalled involvement
of the communication giants in the promotion of polo and sports generally in
Katsina State, has helped in enriching lives in so many ways
He expressed happiness at the commitment of MTN to
Nigerian sports over the years and urged the communication giant to do more,
given the unifying and the diplomatic credentials of sports in Nigerian
political history.
“We are happy with MTN for taking the mantle of
engaging our youths positively in the area of sports and I would urged them not
to rest as MTN stands to gain a lot by
turning our people away from negative
tendencies through sports,” the Pro Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile Ife added.
Earlier, NPF boss, Francis Ogboro had thanked the
monarch for receiving the delegation and promised the royal father that the
Y’ello brand has come to stay as far as the promotion of Nigerian sports and
polo in particular, is concern, both in his Katsina Kingdom and the country as
a whole.
After eight days of unparallel excitements and
cutting edge competitions, home Boys, Katsina Max Air made history, winning the
event’s biggest prize, the Nigerian Cup, one of only four most revered polo
titles in Nigeria. The others are the three hundred year old Georgian Cup, the
Emir of Katsina Cup and the Majekodunmi Cup.
Max Air, wrote
their names in gold as the quartet of Lawal Mangal, Prince Umar Kabir,
Alejandro Palomeque from Argentina and their skipper, Mohammed out paced two
former champions, Abuja Rubicon and Kaduna Trappco, to clinch the coveted
title.
One other highly celebrated victory at first attempt
was recorded by Suleiman Shema’s led Katsina IT Sec team, winning the coveted General
Hassan Katsina Cup, turning back many times champions and local rivals, Katsina
Kangiwa to the crown.
The elated Shema was relieved to see his side sweep
past a hugely supported Kangiwa to win their first major polo title played in
memory of the late Life Chairman of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF).
Host Katsina that was aiming a clean sweep of
the major titles, after fielding teams in the four main prizes at stake, could
only managed two wins as their flagship team Katsina Danmarina was ousted by the enterprising Yola Yelwa who won
the Talba Cup, while Kaduna Makblow earned their first Coommassie Cup in their Katsina
debut.
Other clubs like Port Harcourt, Zaria, Minna, Bauchi
and the Police IGP Strikers who had
arrive the legendary Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground with tall ambitions of
carting home laurels would have to wait till next year, to revamp their glory
haunts in the ancient kingdom.
“This is a
great outing for all our teams. General Hassan Katsina Cup is one prestigious
polo prize Katsina players hold very
dear to hearts and this victory will be celebrated till we defend it again next
year,” Katsina Polo Club Captain, Dahiru Bagiwa declared.
“Kaduna was
afraid not to field any team in the race
for the medium goal, because they knew we were not in the mood to take
prisoners in the explosive General Hassan Cup,” enthused Katsina Polo Vice Captain, Prince Hussaini Kabir who has been
an integral part of the Katsina Kangiwa success story over the years.
The Final game of the Katsina’2011 polo festival was
watched by a mammoth crowd that includes His Royal Highness Alhaji Abdulmumuni
Kabir Usman, NPF President, Francis Ogboro and other first class emirs from the
north.
Others
include representative of Adamawa State Governor, Architect Lawrence Mgbale,
members of the National Assembly, captains of industries, diplomats and
delegations from neighbouring Niger Republic, Mali and Republic of Benin.
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