5th CHukker/Ironclad, Goodfellows Spur Lagos Dominance

The MTN/Lagos International Polo Tournament represents the pinnacle of the noble sport in Nigeria. Only the finest players get the chance to strut their stuff in such a rarefied atmosphere, where their every move could be the difference between defeat and victory.

Highly revered as the stage for greatness and what great moment is was, for Fifth Chukker/Ironclad who out class all comers to win the MTN/Lagos’2014 International Polo Tournament in a convincing fashion.

Powered by polo supremo, Adamu Atta and the emerging golden Boy of Lagos polo, Obafemi Otudeko, Fifth Chukker/Ironclad produced a stunning performance to upset crowd favourites, Auden/ Delany 15-12 and claim the coveted Majekodunmi Cup title.

Their Argentine playmakers Ezekiel Martinez and put in sparkling performances for the champions, combining brilliantly with Atta and Otudeko to inspire the team to victory.

Beamed around the world via international broadcasters, the 2014 edition of the MTN/Lagos polo festival lived up to the tournament's billing as a truly global festival of the game of kings that enriches lives in so many ways.

With the level of play reaching new heights, there were upsets aplenty and biggest upset of the MTN/Lagos’2014 undoubtedly came from the eventual champions, who flew past title holders, Auden/Delany, Kano Titans, and debutants, Keffi Ponies in one lightening swoop of top class polo.

Susplan, Briclinks Glitter @ Ibadan’2014 Polo

The sprawling city of Ibadan in the ancient Oyo kingdom, celebrated one of its grandest moments, hosting the prestigious MTN/Ibadan’2014 Polo Tournament, which came to colourful climax last weekend.

Expectedly, Ibadan’2014 rumble that further highlighted the Home Based Super Eagles performance at the GHAN’2014, pitched teams from three major polo clubs across the country and after an exciting week of intensive campaign, the titles were lopsidedly shared between Kano and host Ibadan.

Lagos that puts up a scanty participation were left without any title to show for their effort, while Kano who arrived the Ibadan capital city with a record seven teams, continue their Ibadan domination, smiling home with two out of the three major titles at stake.

The Bompai based polo kings who have dictated the MTN sponsored festival for four years now, produced the winners in the event’s biggest prize, the Ibadan Cup, the second most wanted Ibadan polo title, Rotimi Cup and finished Runners-up in the Ade Alakija Cup respectively.

Former champions, Kano Titans who were tipped to reclaim the Ibadan Cup title they lost to a resurgent Ibadan Dream Team last year, did not disappoint as they triumph over the ambitious Lagos Shoreline in a marathon final that was decided over two days of intense battle.

The Tajudeen Dantata powered Kano Titans playing in their handy local ponies, fought the battle of their lives as they out paced Tunde Karim’s Lagos Shoreline to clinch the event’s biggest prize, the Ibadan Cup presented in the early 1930s by Colonel R. Petit of the 9th Lancer of the then British colonial masters.

Titans parading Tajudeen Dantata, Halifa Ibrahim, Jamilu Umar and Ibrahim Abdu, Titan defeated the re-enforced Lagos Shoreline boosting Tunde Karim, Abdulraman Mohammed, Lance Watson and Ahmadu Umar, 9-8 in an historic Ibadan Cup final that took two Sudden Death chukkas to separate the winners.

Niger Delta’2014 Unity Polo: Abuja, PH, Katsina Show Class

The Niger Delta Polo Tournament that holds annually in Port Harcourt plays a major role in the sport’s calendar of the ancient city and the 2014 edition did not only lived up to highly revered tradition, it was truly spectacular.

The grandiose polo festival which offers a whole week of passionate and fast paced display of skills and horsemanship showcased by the ambitious, high, medium and low-goal teams left in its roaring trail many memorable legacies that would continue to captivate polo buffs across the world for a long time.

 As the biggest sporting festival in the oil rich Niger Deltas region of the country, the Unity polo fiesta lived up to its cutting edge competition, thrills and excitements, with Abuja, Katsina and host Port Harcourt carting home top honours.

Kaduna polo 2013 Tournament winners' Podium

EL-Amin patron, Mohammed Babangida lifts high the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup to celebrate a crowning moment for his team.

African Polo Kings, Kaduna EL-Amin Pose with the Georgian Cup after receiving the prize from Emir of Katsina and Life Chairman of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), HRH, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman. EL-Amin becomes the first Nigerian high-goal polo team to win the Georgian Cup a record ten times.

EL-Amin Sets All-time Georgian Cup Record

Saturday November 16, 2013, served up a historic treat for African and Nigerian sports, as the attention of the world zoomed in on the port city of Calabar and the cosmopolitan city of Kaduna for a weekend of sporting history.

While Super Eagles secured a fifth World Cup finals ticket for Nigeria against the desperate Ethiopians in Calabar, up north, Nigeria’s all times polo champions, EL-Amin raised the bar once again, with their tenth Georgian Cup title in Kaduna.

The high profile Kaduna’2003 international polo tournament that attracted a record forty teams, lived up to its highly revered tradition of cutting edge competition, high-scoring matches, fantastic goals and an outpouring of emotion.

Expectedly, there was a healthy dose of excitement and drama, and the usual stirring images of beaming winners and inconsolable losers, as Kaduna rock with Mohammed Babangida and his EL-Amin setting an all time record that would be difficult to break in the rich history of Nigerian polo that spans over a century.

A memorable day opened with Abuja Trademark out pacing home Boys, Kaduna DeeBee Farms to win the overcrowded EL-Amin Cup, while Kaduna Makblow succumb to the fire power of  Katsina Kangiwa in the final of the NAHCO Cup.

 Kaduna Sublime crowned their maiden appearance at the prestigious Kaduna polo festival with a thumping victory against DeeBee Farms and deservedly won a fast-paced and high-scoring match final against Abuja Rubicon (2) to clinch the Emir of Katsina Cup.

The Georgian Cup final was another premium-quality affair in a worthy and pulsating setting. Babangida’s EL-Amin snuffed out Senator Hadi Sirika Rubicon’s dreams of defending the title and comfortably sealed a record tenth triumph of the Africa’s most wanted polo prize.

Roared on by their boisterous supporters and inspired by play-maker Santiago Senardas, EL-Amin imposed their class for an ultimately merited victory that was decided over two days of tense final.

After giving out a whopping four handicap goals to a highly charged Abuja Rubicon fortified with a crake Argentine professional, Juan Jose Brane ,  EL-Amin drilled out a commanding performance  scoring seven goals against Rubicon’s three, to bring the scores to 8-7 in the fourth chukka.

 The tense encounter that saw Rubicon’s lead vanished to a solitary goal, was brought to an abrupt end when Rubicon’s Idris Badamasi  fall off his pony fourteen second into the fifth chukka.

And after 14 absorbing minutes of the two chukkas that was left to play, it was the Kaduna based polo kings who were left celebrating. EL-Amin did not only cancel the one goal deficit, they fired home two un-replied goals to win 10-8.

The Nigerian Team of the Decade award winners, were again indebted to Bello Buba,  Ibrahim Mohammed Santi Sernadas and their patron, Mohammed Babangida who fought jointly to sealed El-Amin’s podium finish.

In a Georgian Cup campaign that would go down as the most fierce in the last six years, EL-Amin gave out a whopping eight goals and scored a total of 22 goals, 12 against Keffi Pony in the opening game and 10 against defending champions, Rubicon in the final.

With the Georgian crown secured, EL-Amin went on to add the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup and the Sardauna Cup in a Triple Crown command performance that left everyone in awe.

While Chief predator, Bello Buba became the first Nigerian player to win the 400 years Georgian title 14 times, Babangida who has won the Georgian title eleven times, harvested a bagful of honours. He won four glittering titles, the Emir of Katsina with Kaduna Sublime, Argentine Ambassador Cup, Sardauna Cup and the ultimate Georgian crown.

“I dedicate this victory to my dad who has been the inspiration of the pillar of the team since inception since 1985. We thank the Almighty Allah for his mercies and out teeming fans for their support,” declared Mohammed Babangida.

Chief Host and Grand patron of Yola Polo Club, His Royal Highness, The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa (M) pose with Yola Fombina players after the Prize Presentation ceremony. From left, Mohammed Baba, Caesar Polledo, Asharaf Yahaya and Aliyu Dahiru

Lamido, Argentine Pros Take Yola Polo to Next Level

The just concluded Yola International Polo Tournament which to a colourful climax recently in Yola, truly lived up to exciting tradition both on and off the lush green of the legendary Aliyu Musdafa Polo Ground, its traditional home for over 80 years.

Take the participation of Argentine professionals, a record team entries, the race for the Lamido Cup, and the superb performances by Abuja, Kaduna and Port Harcourt teams who carted home the major trophies, then you would see why the prestigious event was truly grand.

Last year, the Chief Host, His Royal Highness, The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa had pledged to transform the noble game of kings in his kingdom and upgrade the annual Yola polo tournament to a grade A event that would rivals its contemporaries in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina.

This year he did just that, flying in two thorough breed Argentine professionals, Ceasar Polledo and Diego Ocampo both four goals players, to pivot Yola Yelwa and Yola Fombina in their campaign for the Governor’s Cup and the Lamido Cup respectively.

As the first set of foreigners to participate in the tournament since its inauguration in the early 1930s, their arrival did not only headline the prestigious event, it truly gives the grand festival its much touted international flavour and colour.

At the end of eight days of cutting edge competition and unparallel excitements, the high profile polo festival which came to a colourful climax in the ancient city of Yola, with Abuja Rubicon,  Kaduna Kawo, Octopus Clan from Port Harcourt and Kaduna Malali carting home the four main prizes.

Pivoted by top rated Jamilu Mohammed, the trio of Idris Badamasi, Malik Badamasi and Lado Aliyu who stood in for their patron, Senator Hadi Sirika, Rubicon their arch rivals, Yola Yelwa 7-5 in a hotly contested final win the event’s biggest prize, the Governor’s Cup.