All Roads Lead to 2017 Keffi Polo Ranch Open Tournament

The coming Keffi Polo Ranch International Open Polo Tournament that has sparked off a massive frenzy is gearing up to be an irresistible spectacle, across the country and beyond. The prestigious event is billed to blast off with fanfare from April 24, 2017

Already Polo buffs from major polo centers around Nigeria and foreign tourists are gearing up for another carnival. And this year could be a particularly special one as reports indicate that top politicians, captains of industries and societal effluents, are gearing up for the festival.

Proprietor of the high profile ranch, Honuorable Ahmed Wadada, former member, House of Representatives from Nasarawa State, who dropped this hint, stated that top Nigerian polo patrons, foreign players from Argentina and Nigerian professional players are expected to showcase their awesome skills at the polo fiesta.

Top prizes will be won during the weeklong Keffi Ranch epoch polo event that remains the single biggest sporting cum tourism in the kingdom of Keffi and in Nasarawa State.

For six solid days last November, Keffi witnessed one of its grandest moments in yea, with highly competitive matches between the top-ranked teams and emerging polo powers  on  knock-out phases that bucked the trend and delivered more memorable funs never witnessed in the ancient kingdom established over three centuries ago.

Positive, competitive polo was also a major factor in contributing to full and vibrant ground and the most spoken about sporting event of the year. The 2017 edition is guaranteed to surpass that feat in pomp and pageantry as surging crowd of over ten thousand polo freaks urge the teams on.

Expectedly, Keffi Ranch ’2017 rumble which the fourth  in series since the  epoch inaugural edition two years ago, remains a befitting event from  Chief host Honourable Aliyu Wadada to give back to the society, using  the proceeds to benefit  the less privilege and education in Nasarawa State through Wadada Education Foundation.

Purposely established as a polo farm and a relaxation center for tourists and equestrian buffs, Keffi Polo Ranch tournament remains one of the must-play polo events in the country, because of its unique location and closeness to Abuja, the Nation’s capital city.

2017 Abraka Easter Polo: Ashbert Raiders, Aqua Dulcis Are Champs

With a capacity crowd of spectators in the stands, and on a hot and humid day, the exciting 2017 Abraka Easter Polo Tournament climaxed with fanfare.  Defending champions, Ashbert Raiders retained the glittering Patrons Trophy, Just as Aqua Dulcis edged Ashton Wells to win the Conservation Cup.

Decided over three days at the foremost Abraka Turf & Country Club Ground in Oria, Abraka, team Ashbert ( Captain Toks Shotimi, Kabiru Bayo, Jamilu Mohammed  and  their patron, Prince Albert Esiri), outpaced Abraka Guards, before beating visiting Port Harcourt Diobu in a round robin final, to emerge the overall champions of the 2017 Easter Polo fiesta.

T he final games were tied several times and never out of reach of the three finalists and although emphasis was never much on victories than friendships and promotion of the king of games.  Abraka Guards, (Henry Tobi, Tito Ifejika, Bello Buba and Tony Isodje) carted runners-up prize, while Port Harcourt Diobu (Tella Attonni, Adense Oruwariye, Usman Idris and Silas Samuel) finished third.

 Earlier Aqua Dulcis (Henry Tobi, Kabiru Bayo Bello Buba and Tella Attonni) had shone brightly, turning back rivals, Ashton Wells (Adense Oruwarije, Usman Idris Jamilu Mohammed and Toks Shotimi in the pacy Conservation Cup final.

Chief host, Prince Esiri who described the event as a mini tournament hosted to encourage growing interest by Port Harcourt players, thanks all participants and guests for making the event exciting and memorable, while promising a much bigger Easter tourney next year.

Former Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Otuama and Mrs. Akporaye who gave out the prizes to the winners and the runners-up, described Abraka Turf & Country Club as a shining example of an individual effort at projecting the tourism potentials of Delta State and Nigeria internationally.

The resort is set on several hectares of lush cultivated tropical gardens for families, couples and individuals offering holiday accommodation in villas and apartments. Being away from the hustle and bustle of the business hubs of Nigeria, Abraka Turf and Country Club is the perfect environment to completely relax or embark on all the adventures this magnificent region has to offer.

Abraka Turf & Country Club unique combination of location, country club atmosphere, luxury accommodation and friendly staff, makes packing your bags to leave this exotic place a great challenge. The Turf and Country Club, boasts of a breathtaking setting that is surrounded by lush tropical jungle and bordered by the beautiful River Ethiope.

Lagos Polo’2017: Atta’s Fifth Chukker Extends Dominance *Retains Majek Cup, Independence Cup Titles *Kano Agad Clinch Low Cup, Governor’s Cup

Enhanced playing program, greater preparation time and a renewed sense of self-belief  by Nigeria polo supremo, Adamu Atta was on display as Fifth Chukker gave Lagos Centaurs a thumping 15-5 defeat to stretch their  global standing and Majekodunmi Cup titles haul to a new height.

After eleven breathtaking days of international polo actions in Ikoyi, the polo world will surely now be reliving the magic and the legacies thrown forth by the just concluded 2017 Lagos polo tournament.

Some of those enduring highlights include the near clean sweep by Lagos Teams, winning three out of the four major titles at stake, losing just one to Kano Agad.  Agad defeated Lagos Balmoral 61/2- 4 in the Low Cup final clash to win their first ever major polo title in Lagos.

Team Agad (Nabil Dantata, Sadiq Dantata, Idris Badamasi and Malik Badamasi) who were pundits’ outsiders shocked their more experienced rivals, Lagos Balmoral (Baba Dangote, Isa Kwame and Luqman Adebayo and Kabiru Seidu) in the tense Low Cup final, giving the long travelling Kano polo enthusiasts plenty to celebrate for.

By far the biggest show of the tournament belong to Atta and his 5th Chukkers who carted home  the event’s biggest prize and consolidate their status as the kings of Lagos polo, having won the international tourney more than any other team in the last decade.

The final decided before a full crowd that include Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki, billionaire business mogul Aliko Dangote,  among other dignitaries, saw Fifth Chukker (Adamu Atta, Babangida Hassan, Manuel Crespo and Santiago Cernadas) firmly in charge from first chukka to the final sixth, adding the Italian Ambassador Cup for good measures.

Lagos Centaurs boosting ( Bode Makanjuela, Bashir Dantata (Jnr.) Leroux Hendriks and Tom De Bruin) has hope to re-enact their opening game form where they held Fifth Chukkers to a 13-14 standoff, but Ata and his big Boys were just too hot to handle.

I can't hide my joy. I feel proud of our team spirit and determination. It was a great moment for us to be able outpaced the highly motivated Centaurs who were bent on snatching the title at the slightest opportunity,” Atta pointed out.

The crowded first phase of the tourney that pitted teams from Kano, Ibadan and a battery of Lagos teams thrilled for six days intense contests and at the end, it was Bowale Jolaosho’s Leighton Kings and Sheyi Tinubu/ Lolu Ogoro’s STL 57 that ensured Lagos was on top, wining the Open Cup and the Silver Cup respectively.

Leighton Kings (Hassan Fayad, Bowale Jolaosho, Santiago Cernadas and Martin Juaregi) defeated the hard fighting Lagos A-Plus 10 - 6 1/2 to win the Open Cup, while STL 57 dispatched a determined Ibadan Jericho side al to clinch their first Silver Cup title in the GTB sponsored 2017 Lagos International Polo Tournament.

The Lagos international fiesta which climax with fanfare was loaded with plenty of off the field entertainments. Various DJs entertained guests on daily basis, there was a fashion show and top Nigerian artists like Olamide ensure that the international polo extravaganza was truly grand.

The tournament is co-sponsored by Bell Oil & Gas, Veuve Clicquot, Wapic Insurance, Old Mutual, Chapel Hill Denham, Metro Capital, Arbico, and the Majekodunmi Family among others.

2017 NPA LAGOS POLO INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT: Leighton Kings Sweep Double Honours, STL Grabs Silver Cup

Bowale Jolaosho and his Lagos Leighton Kings and Seyi Tinubu’s STL 57 team are the toss of the 2first stage of the 20117 Lagos International Polo Tournament that climaxed with pomp last weekend.

Leighton kings defeated Lagos Lakeside Caverton to win the Oba of Lagos Cup and top it up with the Open Cup, edging Lagos Lintex 11-5 in a fiercely fought final match watched by the crème de la crème of the society.

Debuting Lagos STL 57 set the tune for home teams dominance in the first final of the prestigious polo festival, with a hard earned 6-5 win over visiting Ibadan Jericho in the Silver Cup final.

The Seidu Umar and Edozie Onwuli side that was on the verge of spoiling STL party leading 6-3 in the opening two chukkas, before succumbing to the superior first power by the Seyi Tinubu and Lolu Ogboro boys.

Boosting the superior horse power backing of Fifth Chukker, Leighton Kings were in their element, glittering to their first ever Oba of Lagos Cup title in a 8 - 4 1/2  win over against Lakeside Caverton.

Decided before top dignitaries and His Royal Majesty Oba Riwanu Okiolu who presented the prizes, the royal crown final set the tone for the Open Cup final as Leighton Kings crowned their double weep with a glittering Open Cup victory.

Their final match opponents, Lagos Lintex who had earlier discarded Lakeside Caverton 11-61/2 in their opening game, got their work cut out for them, as the Leighton Kings quartet of Bowale Jolaosho, Hassan Fayad, Martin Juaregi and Santiago Cernadas thrilled the crowded stands of the Ribadu Polo Ground with 11-5 thumping victory.

The final week  of the 2017 Guarantee Trust Bank Lagos international polo tournament gallops off on a blistering note with the defending champions, Lagos Fifth Chukker and a battery of ambitious teams  squaring up in epic battles for glittering Low Cup and one of Africa’s biggest polo prize, the Majekodunmi Cup.