Bauchi Polo’2016: Kaduna,PH,Gabasawa Sweep Laurels

The uch heralded Bauchi ‘2016 Polo Tournament that spread unparallel excitements cross the country, ended recently with Bauchi Linkage Petroleum and Kaduna teams carting home the biggest honours,

It was an intensive six  days of top class polo as over thirty top ranking teams converged in the ancient Hausa kingdom to vie for honours in one of the most prestigious polo extravaganzas in the country.

As the last tournament for the 2015-2016 season n on the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) annual calendar, the Bauchi polo fiesta truly lived up to its traditional cutting edge competitive billings as teams from Kaduna, Port Harcourt  and host Bauchi came out in flying colours.

Event’s biggest prize, the Governor’s Cup that annually threw up new winners, was in its full bloom as Kaduna  Kawo made good their pre-tournament rating, beating determined opposition from host Bauchi, to clinch their first major polo title this year.

Kaduna contingent added  the Emir of Bauchi Cup to their title haul after  Baba Kyari pivoted Kaduna Sultana outpaced three other oppositions to the royal crown. BSC warriors from Adamawa Kingdom ensure a podium finish for Yola teams, with a runners-up win in the medium-goal Emir of Bauchi Cup.

The Governor’s Cup setback did not wore heavily on host Bauchi, as Haruna Usman led Gabasawa  wo the Tafewa Balewa Cup, to give the teeming home crowd plenty to celebrate for. Usman Idris pivoted Bauchi Kari finished runners –up , thus ensuring a clean sweep for the host in the intermediate cup race.

The jostling for the crowded Sarkin Fulani Cup that attracted a record 14 teams from major polo centres across the country, was a bumper-to-bumper affair to the final, with the long travelling Port Harcourt and Zaria finding steams to a winner and runners-up finish respectively.

Port Harcourt club that came back to the winning ways two years ago in Bauchi , maintain their new form as debuting Port Harcourt Shabazz powered by Henry Tobi  outclassed more experienced oppositions to  the glittering Sarkin Fulani crown.

Long established as one of the premier sporting and tourism  attractions in Bauchi, polo has been played here at the Mingi Road polo arena for decades now, and the popularity of the grand fiesta is far from weaning as tourists, polo enthusiasts from far and wide witnessed the fiesta in their drove this year.