EL-Amin Flourish with 15th IBB Cup Crown

 

Polo kings, Kaduna EL-Amin should have a year to remember in 2015. Not only will they celebrate their 2oth anniversary as the most successful polo team in Nigeria, they started the year with a smashing roar, winning their 15th back-to-back IBB Cup title in Minna recently.

As in all high stake polo competitions in the country, the fight was always going to be a three-split battle pitching Kaduna, Katsina and Bauchi and these three major centers were ably represented when the battle for the Minna top prize got underway at the IBB Sports Complex in the Niger State capital city.

It was an exciting week of top class polo played out 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 were the Mohammad Babangida’s  EL-Amin that outpaced all comers to keep their treasured IBB Cup title.

Though the event pitted combatants  with evenly spread team handicaps ranging from +12 and above, it was not too surprising that at the close of the competition that threw up plenty of anxious moments, the prizes were lopsidedly shared with Kaduna smiling home with the juiciest part of the pie.

The Babangida warriors, who stormed the Niger State Capital as clear favourties, defeated their Kaduna Kakuri rivals 10-8 in the grueling five chukkers final clash.

Apart from carting home the IBB Cup, the Kaduna based champions also smile home with the Abdulsalami Cup to show for their grand performance and capped it with their chief predator, Bello Buba emerging the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

"Coming down and playing in front of our teeming Minna fans has always been special and we’re happy to come away with a win," said EL-Amin Patron, Mohammad Babangida."We were always looking to getting an advantage in opening game, so this win is awesome for us; we’re happy with the result.”

“I feel great to realize how much joy one’s effort has positively impacted the lives of the teeming polo enthusiasts across the country and Minna in particular. Their support and believe in EL-Amin has always been the driving force and I want to dedicate these victories to my teeming fans,” Babangida declared.

"The game didn’t go exactly to plan for Kakuri side, but we tried to keep our heads up, hoping to catch them in the late chukkers, but our horse power fail us.” Mourns Kakuri pivot player, Hamisu  Buba.

 “Obviously we feel pretty dejected,” Buba added. “EL-Amin were more clinical in the important areas and fed off of our mistakes. They do that often, so fair play to the champions.”

As tradition, EL-Amin’s unflinching superiority served as the tonic for Kaduna Mangas that came from behind to scoop home two glittering titles, the Talban Minna Cup and General Hassan Katsina Cup respectively.

Katsina Gobarau parading Aminu Abdulmumuni Kabir, Husaini Kabir, Hassan Shehu and Abdulwahabi Sani Stores kept Katsina hope alive by winning the Governor’s Cup, beating Kaduna Profile to the second place.

The IBB Sports Complex, venue of the glamorous annual polo carnival, was always full to capacity on a daily basis, as the battles for the coveted Emir of Minna, the Governor’s and the Wushishi cups rages.

Two arch rivals showed up for the Emir’s prize and at the end, it was a sweet victory for Bauchi Gabasawa team that earned their first Emir of Minna Cup crown.

NPF scribe, Baba Kyari led his Unity Bank team parading Adamu Usman,Idris, Abba Kangiwa and Hayatou Abba to clinch the Wushishi Cup, edging  Nexim Bank squad of Abati Kyari, Idris Badamasi, Aminu Abdulmumuni Kabir and Khalifa Adams to the title.

Minna Tunga threw away many scoring chances to surrender the Idris Kuta Cup to Bauchi Gubi, who won the title dedicated to the memory the late President of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), Senator Idris Kuta.

NPF President, Francis Ogboro who gave out prizes to the winners at the colourful closing ceremony, salute the courage of our team patrons, players and our affiliated clubs, pointing out that their passion for the noble game of kings has never been in question. 

“I congratulate the winners and the losers alike and urged them to remain disciplined and always adhere to the rules of the game not only during tournaments, but while playing their clubs chukkas,” Ogboro added.

The annual polo festival which remains the biggest sporting cum tourism event in the State enjoys the patronage of former President Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, and the Emir of Minna, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Farouk Bahago, among others.