Max Air, Safaz, Yelwa Made Zaria’2012 Polo History

An epic so exciting, you could choke on the popcorn. MTN/Zaria‘2012 international polo extravaganza was undoubtedly them most riveting drama of the king of games in recent history.

From its colourful opening ceremony where a record 32 teams from across the country lined up for action, to its flourishing climax played out in front of surging crowd, it was certain that the aristocrats game of polo was truly at home in Zaria

The prestigious MTN/Zaria international polo tournament that made headlines all week long came to a flourishing climax recently with Katsina, Kaduna and Yola sweeping the stakes, just as host Zaria finishing on high with two impressive runners-up titles.

Reveres as one of the biggest polo festivals in the country, the MTN fiesta lived up to its competitive and grandiose tradition with the ancient Zazzau kingdom and the neighbouring states revealing in its enduring legacies.

The first cup of the MTN powered event that was decided before a full house at the legendary Zaria polo ground was the event’s biggest honour, the Royal Signal Cup, which saw the top firing Katsina Max Air emerging the proud winners.

To clinch the coveted title, quartet of Lawan Mangal, Umar Kabir, Muhammdu Seriki and Nigeria’s top rated Bello Buba edged out two top rivals, Zaria Rubicon and Kaduna Keffi Ponies, to clinch the coveted title.

Senator Hadi Sirika who entred his super stud team as Zaria Rubicon as part of his crusade of promoting polo across the country and beyond, gave Zaria their first Royal Signal Trophy title  after a long dull, beating Kaduna to the line.

Sirika and his aviation side who were vying for their first Royal Signal title, proved pundits wrong with their runners-up finish. Parading Malik Badamasi, Mamuda Shehu and the big shooting Jamilu Mohammed outclassed Honourable Aliyu Wadada’s Kaduna Keffi Poines in the final game of the tournament watched a mammoth crowd.

To cap an impressive outing for Zaria teams, home crowd favourites, Zaria ASI added the University Cup runners-up title to the title haul, giving the teeming Zaria polo buffs plenty to remember the glamorous fiesta.

Kaduna Polo Club that entered the largest number of teams, made good use of their numbers with Kaduna Safaz Shelters out pacing two determined oppositions from their arch rivals, Katsina to win the highly sort after Emir of Zazzau Cup.

To earn their first major polo title in Zaria, the property developers parading Shuaibu Zakari, Lado Aliyu, Yakubu Bachi and super , Bello Buba were forced to a score draw by hot favouries, IT Sec, before they shoot down the tall ambition of Masanawa 4=11/2 in a fiercely fought final.

Safaz victory which was their first major title at the MTN/Zaria event, also provided the boost for Kaduna Makblow team who battled a crowded field of over twelve teams to clinch the University Cup, which saw host Zaria ASI  beating Bauchi Nabada Farm to finish runners-up.

The race for the Governor’s Cup that pitched eight equally matched teams from Kaduna, Katsina, Port Harcourt and Yola went straight to the wire, with the winner emerging on the last day of the prestigious MTN polo extravaganza.

The Governor’s Cup final which was decided before a surging crowd that included royalties, diplomats and the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, was fiercely contested with Yola Yelwa coming from behind to upset highly favoured Kaduna Kawo 6-1/2 in a grudged game that the Kaduna boys filtered away begging scoring chances.

The beginners were not left out of the victory celebrations, as the promising MTN team comprising

Jubrin Magaji, Nafiu Rabiu, Ibrahim Rabiu and Salisu Sasi wrote their names in gold as the first team to ever win the newly introduced Beginners Cup.

The glamorous MTN polo festival organizes by the game's governing authority, the Nigerian Polo Federation was witnessed thousands of polo buffs who thronged the foremost Zaria Polo Ground on Queen Elizabeth Road on a daily basis.

Some of the high profile guests include the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabie Usman, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, Kaduna State Governor, Partick Yakowa, governors of Bauchi, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Jigawa were all represented on the final day of the grand festival.

With an estimated population of almost a million, Zaria is located in northern Nigeria on a major north-south highway about 87 miles southwest of Kano. First known as Zazzau, the city was founded about 1000 years ago as one of the seven Hausa city-states. Zaria was captured by the Fulani in 1805 and by the British, under Frederick Lugard, in 1901. Today, it is the home of Ahmadu Bello University, built in 1962.

According to history, Zaria was an ordinary town until 621 years ago when it became the headquarters of the Zazzau emirate through the proclamation of one of the Habe emirs called Bako Tulunku, who was not very comfortable with the security situation in Tulunku, the then capital of the emirate, about 32 kilometers from present Zaria.

Initially, an early settlement of the Hausa, Fulani, the Kanuris from the old Kanem-Bornu Empire and the Yoruba from Ogbomoso, Zaria has grown into what is now generally referred to  as a cosmopolitan city and the king of sports, polo has contributed immensely to that transformation.

Outside the city gate, there are pockets of old settlements. One of such settlements is Wusasa where the Anglican missionaries first settled. In this settlement, there is a chapel that is more than 100 years old.

Hong Kong, S/Africa Finish Tops at FIP Snow Polo World Cup’2012

Hong Kong, China crowned Champions of the first ever Snow Polo World Cup in Asia in which Africa’s sole representatives, South Africa finished overall runners-up. The prestigious final was hosted by the Equestrian Association of China and the Federation of International Polo (FIP).

 Asia’s first ever “Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2012 was successfully concluded after nine days of fierce competition. Twelve teams from around the world competed for top honours in the event that attracted a large number of prestigious guests including ambassadors, polo professionals and prominent elites.

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, England, Hong Kong, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA were all vying to become the first winners of the inaugural Snow Polo World Cup, thus making this international high-goal tournament one of the largest in the world.

Hong Kong dominated the first chukka of the final, with Guillermo Terrera and Martin Inchauspe both scoring. South Africa’s Tom de Bruin opened the scoring for South Africa in the second chukka, but Hong Kong, China dominated possession, with Terrera scoring again.

Martin Inchauspe scored again to extend Hong Kong’s lead. Tom de Bruin scored a penalty towards the end of the chukka, but Guillermo Terrera scored a penalty also, to bring the home side up to 6:2 at half time.

Having defended for most of the game thus far, South Africa started to threaten more in chukka 3, although Hong Kong, China’s Guillermo Terrera performed a dramatic penalty save to secure Hong Kong’s lead. South Africa found their stride in chukka 4, and put the home side under severe pressure, however Hong Kong, China maintained their lead, and finished the game 7:4.

The playoff for 3rd and 4th place was between England and Argentina. It was a very close match, with both teams remaining within one point of each other, and England edging ahead 4-3 at halftime. The lead switched between the two teams throughout the rest of the game, but England managed to emerge victorious at the end, sealing an 8-7 win.

Georgian Cup Presentation Ceremony

EL-Amin pose with the Georgian Cup

Mohammed Babangida Lifts the Georgian Cup

Georgian Cup final action

EL-Amin Glows in Sixth Georgian Cup Conquest

The egos of fulfillment are still lingering in the air as an atmosphere of togetherness and celebration continues to reign across the country and Kaduna in particular, all thanks to the indomitable EL-Amin polo organization that has left an indelible mark on the noble game of polo.
The swell of pride was tangible at the legendary Murtala Mohammed Square last November as thousands of fans filled the magnificence square to watch Babangida and his EL-Amin confirmed their status as kings of polo, with a sixth straight Georgian Cup victory.
The expanse arena echoed with the awesome power of the game of kings, giving a voice to the jubilation of teeming enthusiasts, dressed to the hilt in the colours of EL-Amin, cheering their darling team to victory in a spectacular campaign that fetched them four glittering prizes.
Those who still believe lightning never strikes twice should spare a thought for EL-Amin who for the ninth successive times has broken all available records to set an all time record as the most successful Nigerian high-goal polo team in the century old history of the Georgian Cup.
For the sixth year in succession, Mohammed Babangida and his top firing polo super stars had their dreams come true with spectacular back-to-back-victories, which have now left everyone wondering if there would ever be any team that would puncture their winning streak.
Pundits were divided after Honourable Hadi Sirika confirmed his loaded Rubicon squad that included a 7-goal Argentine professional, Gonzalo Bourdou in his quest to win his first Georgian title. The atmosphere was turbo charge for EL-Amin die-hards as the Rubicon raced to 8-3 lead with just two chukkas left to play in a decisive opening game.
But how EL-Amin came back to force 12-12 draw and could have clinch a winner if their supper stud, Sbu Dome had managed to seal victory with a bouncing ball in the last second of the tense encounter, is still being debated within the polo fraternity.
With the scary nightmare over, the Kaduna polo kings drew strength in their characteristic chemistry that has seen them through many conquests, and kill the tall ambition of Rubicon for another year, with 11-7 spectacular victory after giving out three handicap goals in a Winner-Take –all Georgian Cup final.
Apart from clinching their ninth title which clearly puts them ahead as the first team to achieve such feat in the history of the cup that was first won by Zaria way back in 1920, EL-Amin also crown the year as the most successful team with two other glittering prizes, the Argentine Ambassador and the Sardauna cups.
Babangida and the trio of Ibrahim Mohammed, Sbu Doma and the mercurial Bello Buba whose thirteen Georgian title make him the first Nigerian player to achieve that mark, have plenty to celebrate for as their South Africa import, Sbu Doma was crown the Most Valuable Player of the festival.
EL-Amin Patron, Mohammad Babangida paid tribute glowing to his warriors after they survived the most nerve-racking of scares to write their names in gold. “The finale was great and I want to thank the players for their concentration and determination. I must also thank our teeming fans for standing by us always,” he stated.
"We had to dig deeper than ever before and it's hard to get it to sink in, but I am so proud of every single one of them," said Babangida after the final game at Murtala Square. Kaduna. "We couldn't have been under more pressure at times but we stuck to our guns and got there in the end."

EL-Amin’s Buba Tops Latest Nigerian Polo Ranking

Nigeria’s polo super star and Kaduna EL-Amin chief predator, Bello Buba remains the nation’s numeruo uno in the latest polo ranking recently released by the games’ ruling authority, the Nigerian Polo Federation, (NPF).
The much awaited ranking which was made public at the just concluded Niger Delta ‘2012 Polo Festival in the Rivers State capital city, Port Harcourt, saw the Kaduna based star maintaining his status as the highest handicap player in the country.
Though he was brought down to four goals from his five goal rating by the powerful Handicapping Committee of the NPF, Buba still reign on as the best four goal player in Nigeria.
Before the recent evaluation by the highly conservative committee which is the sole authority to rank Nigerian polo players, the highly acclaimed Buba has occupied the top spot as Nigeria’s only five goal player for almost five years.
His only opposition had come from his kid brother, Hamisu Buba who shoved him aside to occupied the hot spot momentarily for a year, before Bello who has been playing high-goal polo with the reigning Nigerian champions, Kaduna EL-Amin for over a decade now, stormed back to reclaim his position.

With international exposures in his kitty, including the recently concluded polo World Cup playoffs in Malaysia, the Dubai Gold Cup and other numerous outings in Argentina and Europe, it looks like the Jos born legend may well maintain the apex ranking for sometimes to come.
In all, about ninety polo players drawn from all the affiliates and associate clubs of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) were affected during the recent evaluation whose result has been forwarded to the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) for necessary notifications and ratifications.
Apart from confirming Buba as Nigeria’s best player at four goals, the Dawule Baba’s led committee also brought other players ranging from +4-+1 one step down from their previous ratings, in what is being hailed as a bold attempt by the NPF to make Nigerian teams more competitive at international events.
With the latest ranking, Nigeria now has about eight three goals players which include Hamisu Buba, Jamilu Mohammed, Mamuda Shehu, Ibrahim Mohammed and Dawule Baba who remains Nigeria’s most experienced player and the National team coach.
National Team Manager and NPF Secretary, Mohammed kyari lead the list of two goal players that includes, Kaduna Polo Club captain, Ali Hassan, Ibrahim Babangida, Ibrahim Abba, Rabiu Mohammed, Aminu Gagare, Usman Idris, Ado Madawaki and NPF Ex-Officio, Prince Umar Kabir.
Those who lose their two goals rating include Abba M.T Usman, Musa Yahaya, Aminu Alhaji, Musty Junaid, Mukhtar Adahama, Prince Sanusi Kabir, NPF Vice President, Bashir Yar’Adua, Kashim Bukar, Shehu Lawal Kaita and Aliyu Sambo.
The Handicapping Committee last sitting which also elevated a number of players, was chaired by the NPF President, Francis Ogboro,
Those elevated latest ranking exercise include, a member of the Nigerian World Cup team, Malik Badamasi who was moved from +1 to 2 and patron of the trail blazing Safaz Shelter polo team, Shuaibu Zakari who was moved to zero.
Other elevated players are the promising Asharaf Yahaya from Yola who moved from +1 to 2, Lado Aliyu, Bashir Hadejia, Baba Isa Kyari, Bashir Musa Mambu, Ben Garba, Ibrahim Kontagora, Prince Aminu Abdulmumuni, Hassan Shehu and Abba Kangiwa.
The list also include Mike Ogolo, Kabiru Bayo, Baba Shehu, Abu Sani Makama, Ibrahim Musa, Ibrahim Mohammed, Aminu Muazu, Umaruo Modibbo, Shauibu Danladi, Ibrahim Zakari, Khalifa Adams who was the first beginner to win the EL=Amin Cup cash prize as Best Beginner.
The need to review players’ handicap across board came to the fore at the World Cup Playoffs in Malaysia where Nigeria, who returned to the global stage after over twenty years of absence, had to give out handicap goals to more experience countries like South Africa, Pakistan who finished the event as runner-up to India.

Lagos Teams Sweep Stakes in MTN’2012 Polo Festival

The prestigious MTN ‘2012 International Polo Tournament came to flourishing climax last night, with host Lagos carting up the two more major prizes at stake, leaving visiting Ibadan, Kaduna and Kano to wait for better luck next year.
It was an exciting ten days of thrilling polo that clearly distinguished the MTN fiesta from others in term of pomp and pageantry and host Lagos wrapping up an impressive performance with a clean sweep that guaranteed them the dignified status as the overall champions of the MTN’2012 International Polo Tournament.
Two championship finals were decided Sunday, with Tavia Trojan and Linetrale Delaney clinching the Lagos Open Cup and the Majekodunmi cups respectively. To successfully defend the glittering they won last year, Tavia Trojan defeated debutants, YY Ibako in a tense five chukkas Open Cup final, while Linetrale Delaney made good use of their four handicap goals advantage, to defeated the hard fighting Fifth Chukker to win their second MTN sponsored Majekodunmi Cup title in two years.
Other subsidiary prizes won during the second and final weekend of the glamorous MTN polo fiesta include, the Independence Cup that went to Linetrale with the Fifth Chukker finishing runners-up in the race for the oldest polo title in Nigeria.
Kaduna Fifth Chukker who vied for three top honours could only managed the Italian Ambassador Cup after defeating Lagos Ironclad in the final. YY Ibako also went home with the consolatory Open Cup runners up title.
Kano Polo Captain, Tajudeen Dantata whose Titans fall to fly in the Open Cup race, was also a proud winner after leading the trio of Khalifa Ibrahim, Bode Makanjuola and Osama Debbs to win the newly introduced Heritage Cup which was played to commemorate a 108 years of polo in Lagos.
To ensure nothing gets out of the back door, Lagos Delcline & Fall had outpaced the running Kano Seamans Energy 6-5 in the final, to win the event’s fourth most wanted prize, the Lagos Dansa Cup and set the tune for Lagos domination.
That Dansa Cup victory against their Kano arch rivals was probably the impetus that fired the Lagos Low Cup as Lagos Ironclad came from behind to deny arch rivals, Ashbert Raiders the coveted Low Cup in a tense final decided before a crowded stands at the foremost Ribadu Road Polo ground in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The final games was watched by top dignitaries which include the richest man of Nigeria, Aliko Dangote, military chiefs, traditional rulers, chieftains of the MTN as well as thousands of polo enthusiasts who came from across the country to be part of the historic MTN polo fiesta.

Ironclad, Decline &Fall Rule MTN’2012 Polo First Stage

The first stage of the prestigious MTN ‘2012 International Polo Tournament came to flourishing climax Sunday, with host Lagos carting up the two major prizes at stake, leaving visiting Kano to make do with the crumbs.

It was a week-long of thrilling polo that clearly distinguished the MTN fiesta from others in term of pomp and pageantry and hosting Lagos made sure nothing gets out of the back with Lagos Delcline & Fall a grudged encounter to win the event’s fourth most wanted prize, the Lagos Dansa Cup.

That victory was against Kano Seamans Energy team was probably the impetus that fired up the Lagos Low Cup as Lagos Ironclad came from behind to deny arch rivals, Ashbert Raiders the coveted Low Cup in a tense final decided before a crowded stands at the foremost Ribadu Road Polo ground in Ikoyi, Lagos.

To earn their first major Lagos title, the Bowale Jolaoso led Ironclad who found themselves 4-1 down in the first chukker, had to dig deep and the trio of Bashir Dantata, Ahmadu Umar and Isa Kwame did all the right thing in stopping Ashbert’s chief predator, Bruno Cipponeri to ensure victory.

“We want to thank our supporters for their trust and urging us on even when we fell behind in the opening chukkers. It was a sweet victory that would be celebrated for a long time to come, because defeating a strong and experienced team like Ashbert take a lot of courage,” declared an elated Jolaoso.

Before Ironclad’s 6-5 narrow victory, a charged Decline & Fall had defeated Kano Seamans Energy 8-6 to make it a clean sweep of the two major titles of the MTN fiesta, for host Lagos Polo Club.

Other subsidiary prizes that were carted home by the winners include the Owen Cup which was won by Lagos Petrovision who edged hard fighting Kano Manarat in another explosive final. Rotimi Makanjuola led Lagos Machine were also proud winners of the General Abdulkadir Cup, while Lagos Ericson outpaced Kano RTC in the race for the Churchward Plate.

The second stage of the glamorous MTN international polo fiesta is billed to gallop off with fanfare on Wednesday, March7,2012 with two major prizes, the Lagos Open and the MTN sponsored Majekodunmi Cup up for grabs.