El-Amin maintains supremacy at Minna Polo Fiesta

_DSC0446Recently, Minna played host to polo players and enthusiasts for the 2014 polo tournament. And as with all polo tournaments in Nigeria, there were always expectations from players, patrons and indeed, polo ponies. The just concluded, Minna polo extravaganza was no exception. The polo community in Nigeria and, indeed, other parts of Africa always looked forward to the tourney.
Little wonder, the event sent the Niger state Capital City, Minna, agog as it witnessed one of its grandest moments, hosting the prestigious National Annual 2014 Polo Tournament that took place from 10 June and came to colourful anti-climax on 14 June 2014 at the Polo Ground, IBB Sports Complex.

The Nigerian Polo Federation-organized Polo extravaganza was a befitting event to celebrate Nigeria’s democracy, as the event served the crème de la creme of the society and polo enthusiasts with memorable show.
The fiesta which was hosted by Minna Polo Club under the atmosphere of togetherness, pitched players from all major polo clubs across the country together and after an exciting week of intensive hostilities, the winners and the losers were all joined in celebration.
For the indomitable Kaduna EI-Amin Polo Team, this was a moment to keep clinging glasses as the team, powered by Muhammad Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, against all odds, triumphed at the legendary Ibrahim Babangida Polo Ground to confirm its status as a phenomenon in the noble game of Kings.

The EL-Amin Polo Team captained by Nigerian most rated polo player Bello Buba, paraded other star players like Prince Aminu Abubakar Alhaji, lbrahim Mohammed and team patron, Muhammad Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida were a delight to watch in all their matches during the glamorous polo event.
Propelled by vociferous fans who cheered them all the way, Kaduna EL-Amin carted home two glittering trophies. Kaduna EL-Amin in their first match in the race for the IBB Cup defeated Kaduna Kakuri quartet of Ibrahim Babangida, Hamisu Buba, Ibrahim Abba and Ado Madawaki by 6-4 1/2 in a keenly contested game.

The crowning moment of Kaduna EI-Amin came at the final of the championship after defeating hard fighting Kaduna Kakuri 7-3 ½ goals to add the glittering General Abubakar Abdulsalami Cup. This was achieved after a thrilling and a nerve-wrecking final of the tournament.
The contest for the Governor’s Cup was a straight fight between five strong teams: Katsina Gobarau, Kaduna Trappco, Minna Jamila Ville Farms, Kaduna Profile Tech and Abuja Guards Rubicon.
Highly improved Katsina Gobarau turned the Governor’s Cup into a local derby for the event’s second most wanted prize.
At the end of the derby, Katsina Gobarau quartet of Prince Aminu Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman (Magajin Garin Katsina), Hassan Shehu Masanawa, Abdulwahab Sani Store and Ado Madawaki won the Governor’s Cup, leaving the Magayakin Keffi-Suleiman Abubakar powered Kaduna Trappco with the runner’s cup.

Bauchi Nadabo Farms Polo Team added another national honour by winning the Emir of Minna Cup. The team paraded Suleiman Shema, Atiku Saibo, Usman Idris and Haruna Usman Ningi, while hard fighting Nigeria Police IGP Strikers got the runner’s cup.
It was a tension-soaked encounter that kept the mammoth crowd on their feet from start to finish.
In the General Hassan Usman Katsina Cup with a total of 11 solid teams, Abuja Guards Nana’s place parading Farouk Musa Dattijo, Saidu Isa Batagarawa, Nura Suleiman and Ibrahim Paki, gave Abuja Polo fans something to cheer by overwhelmingly defeating Jos Malcomines to win the General Hassan Usman Katsina Cup.

The highlight of the tournament was the crowning of Kakuri play- maker, Hamisu Buba, as the most valuable player of the tournament, which puts him in the exclusive class of polo players that have won the award in previous polo fiestas.
The selected matches played during the tournament were for the Talban Minna Cup won by Nexim Bank Polo team captained by Abubakar Sani Makama, leaving Unity Bank Polo team with the runners- up prize. General MI Wushishi Cup was won by Kaduna Profile Tech team, while Minna Jamila Valle Farms clinched the runners-up trophy.

NSDC Polo Team defeated Heritage Press Polo Team to win the Ahmadu Bahago Memorial Cup. The Nigeria Police IGP Strikers defeated Port Harcourt Octopus Clan to win Senator Idris Ibrahim Cup. The Kere Ahmed Cup was captured by EL-Amin International School Polo Team.

The championship which ended on Saturday June 14, 2014, amidst pomp and pageantry, was powered by Niger state Government under the able leadership of the Chief Servant, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, CON (Talban Minna), who is also the President of Minna Polo Club and the new individual major sponsor that came in a huge way, Hajiya Talatu – Yargatan Nupe.
Others include Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Unity Bank Plc, Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Ltd., EL-Amin Polo and Niger State development Company (NSDC).