The glamorous Nigeria national polo tour that has been spreading excitement across the North Central part of the country, is heading to the North West region, with Katsina international polo tourney taking the first slot.
Preparations for the highly anticipated 2023 Katsina International Polo tournament moves to higher gears, after a recent meeting of the newly elected management committee headed by Prince Sanusi Kabir as the President and the new Chairman Muhammadu Sarki which took place in Katsina, confirmed the tournament dates.
The vibrancies around the polo fraternity took a higher pedestal after the all-powerful Grounds and Facilities Inspection Committee inspected the foremost Usman Nagogo Polo Ground venue of the festival, and gave it a clean bill.
A statement from the Katsina Polo Club indicates that the 2023 Katsina international tournaments will gallop off with fanfare on August 28 and come to a flourishing climax on 3rd September 3 with delegations from neighbouring Niger, Benin and Burkina-Faso in attendance.
As the first polo event of the season on the polo new season , the foremost Katsina revered as the home of Nigerian polo, is backed by the Katsina State Government, and a consortium of blue chip corporate organizations and high profile individuals, the 2023 edition promises to the biggest and the most exciting in years.
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Katsina Polo Captain, Ibrahim Sarki confirmed that letters of invitation have already been dispatched to all the major polo clubs and top teams across the country, adding the host teams are perfecting strategies to vie for all the major titles at stake during the polo extravaganza.
He assures all participating teams, polo enthusiasts and tourists a most memorable time in the ‘home of Nigerian Polo’, during the week-long galloping fiesta that has remained the biggest sporting cum tourism attraction to the ancient kingdom for over a century now.
Prizes like the Nigerian Cup which is the event’s biggest cup on offer and one of the oldest polo titles in Africa, will be keenly contested for by the participating teams and General Hassan Katsina Cup played in memory for the late Life Chairman of Nigerian polo.
Other major laurels on offer during the week-long fiesta include the President’s Cup, Nagogo Memorial Cup, Dikko Memorial Talba Cup, Coomassie Cup and the Governor’s Cup, among others. Individual honours and awards are also on offer to be given out to players who would distinguish themselves during the fiesta.
From Katsina, the ‘home of polo in Nigeria’, the calvary is expected to make a short trip to the ancient kingdom of Kabi in the far north western part of Nigeria, for the prestigious NSK Polo Tournament as preparations is already underway, while the date has not been confirmed as at the time of going to the press.
NSK Polo Farm proprietor, Nura Kangiwa who is the President of the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF), hinted it would be special in many ways, with most of the established polo patrons and top players leading the pack.
Kangiwa who is also the boss of Nigerian tourism, disclosed that apart from the game of kings, the annual fiesta would feature an international wrestling match between Nigeria and Niger Republic, Camel racing, Horse racing contests, and a handful of traditional cultural displays.
Four major titles would be contested for this year, with the Governor Cup leading the pack as the biggest prize. Others include the Sultan Cup, Emir of Kebbi Cup and Col. A D Umar Cup, among other individual prizes.