The just-concluded Minna international polo tournament was an unforgettable epoch that sets new heights as EL-Amin extended their supremacy and crowned champions in the Medium-Goal and Low-Goal categories.
The prestigious polo carnival that pitched over 20 polo teams and top Nigerian patrons and established players, left in its glowing trail many memorable highpoints both on and off the pitch.
One of such highlights was the strong message from the kings of Minna polo, El-Amin that they are not in a hurry to leave their stronghold on the event’s biggest prize, the IBB Cup. Also for good reasons was the debut of the Minna Bilaad Warriors with their historic win of the highly contested Governor’s Cup on their first attempt.
Other major landmarks of 2021 edition of the fiesta included the rampaging Profile Group that won two of the four major cups on offer announcing their arrival on the highly competitive Nigerian polo scene with a bang.
Of course, there was this tension soaked final game that decided the winners of the event’s biggest prize, the IBB Cup in front of the representative of the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello doubles as the President of Minna Polo Club.
The sporting loving governor, who lost a member of the state’s traditional council was represented by the state Commissioner of Youth and Sports and there was also the presence of political big wigs from Abuja as well as polo buffs from across the country.
After a week-long campaign for honours, home crown favourite and serial back-to-back champions, El-Amin, the Profile Group Team and the rampaging Minna Bilaad Warriors dominated the annual event that is rubbing shoulders with the biggest polo fiestas across the country in competition and pomp.
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Ahead of the winners-takes-all final stages, aficionados and polo buffs were already salivating the chance of witnessing the crowning of the new champions of Minna polo but that was not to be, as the title holders parading Abdullahi Nura, Damjuma Kubarachi, top predator, Bello Buba Patron Mohammad Babangida came from behind to win.
Armed to the teeth with intimidating horsepower and fortified with established medium-players, Profile that fielded three strong teams in the fiesta warmed themselves to the heart of Minna polo fans, clinching the General Hassan Cup and Emir of Minna Cup respectively in one historic swoop hat is the talk of the town.
Their attempt at the third major was brutally stopped on the track as Nigeria’s top players; Bello Buba pivoted the trio of Jamilu King, Alhassan Aliyu and Jamilu Umar to an easy Governor’s Cup victory against Minna Profile team regulars like Tijani Hassan, Nasiru Yusuf and Ibrahim Mohammed.
Visiting teams from Bauchi, Yola, Katsina, Abuja and Kaduna also smiled home with glittering prizes in the subsidiary categories, clinching the Senator Idris Kuta Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup respectively.
It also be noted that the Amin International School Polo Team also made their mark as future stars of Nigerian polo, winning the Beginners Cup to earn applause from the discerning crowd that turned up in their droves for the closing ceremony of yet another memorable Minna polo epoch.
Mnna Polo Chairman, Mohammad Babangida expressed physical delight that the popularity of the game of kings in the state is in good hands going by the springing up of so many talents participating in the tournament.
“I also want to laud all participating teams for honouring our invitation to be part of the tournament, and congratulated all the winners and runners-up for their sportsmanship and discipline throughout the event,” he stated.
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