The just concluded legacy edition of the 2013 Niger
Delta international polo tournament that highlighted the centenary celebration
of the Garden City of Port Harcourt has left in its roaring trail many
memorable legacies, which would captivate polo buffs across the world for a
long time.
As the
biggest festival in the month-long festivities
commemorating the founding of the River State capital city in 1912 by Lord
Lugard, the legacy polo fiesta lived up to its cutting edge competition,
thrills and excitements, with host Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Katsina carting
home top honours.
After eight
days of bumper-to bumper polo actions pitching 28 top teams from across the
country with all the big names in the noble game of kings, Port Harcourt
Rubicon gave the home fans plenty to celebrate, wining the event’s biggest laurel,
the General Hassan Katsina Cup.
The Senator Hadi Sirika powered Rubicon parading
Idris Badamasi, Malik Badamasi Jamilu Mohammed and their South African import,
Grey, set the winning mood for Port Harcourt teams in the top international
fiesta, upsetting defending champions, Kaduna Profile.
Spurred on by Rubicon’s commanding performance as
the first Port Harcourt team to win the biggest prize since the inauguration of
the festival in the early 1970s, the Tanko Ayuba led Octopus Clan defeated Zaria MTN in the final, to add the
T.Y Danjuma Cup to host Port Harcourt.
Their ambition of clinching a hard trick was halted
by Kaduna Danmarina Ibako warriors who clinched the event’s second most wanted
polo prize in the Niger Delta, the President Cup, while Katsina Sultana Farm
earned their first major title, carting home the Governor’s Cup.
The Kaduna side boosting Bello Buba, Ibrahim Abba,
Ibrahim Kontagora and Muhammedu Serirki had to dig deep into their wealth of
experience to edge Port Harcourt Bankole Foundation powered by the former House
of Representatives Speaker, 3-21/2 in a nerve President Cup final.
Governors Cup showdown that attracted seven highly
ambitious teams came down to the wire as the debuting Katsina Sultana fought
till the last minute of the explosive duel to beat Port Harcourt Rubicon (2) 4-3
for their first Niger Delta polo title.
Other winners in the international polo fiesta that
galloped off the prestigious Nigerian polo season include Dimeji Bankole who
won the MVP award and the Port Harcourt Polo President, Ibifiri Bob Manuel who led
his Bob Manuel Construction team to win the Telavberas Cup. Nigeria’s top rated
Bello Buba and Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) scribe, Baba Kyari also wrote
their names in gold after powering the Telavaras to win the coveted Niger Delta
Peace Cup, just as Tella Atoni led Presidential Hotel team won the Roland Cookey-Gam
Cup.
The NPF President, Francis Ogboro who co-hosted the
international polo festival with the Rivers State Governor, Right. Honourable
Chibuike Amaechi was full of praises for the players for showcasing their awesome
talent in a most friendly atmosphere.
Ogboro also
hailed the management committee of Port Harcourt Polo Club for spearheading the
spread of the king of games in the region and for providing first class
facilities which ensures that club is rated as one of the top hundred polo
clubs in the world.
The fact that tourists from abroad and polo
enthusiasts from other parts of the country attend this festival annually;
attest to the immense tourism and social values of the exciting game of polo in
the oil rich region and Nigeria.
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