As the Easter and the Ramadan holidays are approaching, the Nigerian polo fraternity is waiting with bated breath for the polo tour to move up north for the Savannah trip, and the countdown is already underway for the pilgrimage to the ancient kingdoms of Zazzau.
The Savannah tour bouquet that is the longest in Nigerian polo season, holds over twelve tournaments (both public and private), with Kaduna state and the federal capital city, Abuja being the starting points.
As the first tournament that gallops off the second leg of the glamorous national polo tour, the prestigious Zaria polo extravaganzas is guaranteed to be the most exciting and highly competitive and lots of fun.
In fact, there is a renewed enthusiasm and commitment from the management committee and the entire membership to make the 2023 edition of the glamorous event revered as one of the most exciting and the oldest polo tournaments in the country, the most successful in years.
The prestigious fiesta that attracts over teams from major polo centres across the country enjoys the royal backing of the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, HRH Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli and the Emir of Katsina who is the Life Chairman of Nigeria polo.
Organized by the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), the glamorous fiesta remains the biggest tourist attraction to the ancient city and is chiefly sponsored by Kaduna State, with strong support from the governments of neighbouring states, Katsina and Zazzau Emirates Council, among others.
For a century now, major prizes on offer in Zaria include the high stake Royal Signal Cup which is the biggest cup, the medium-goal Emir of Zazzau Cup, The Governor’s Cup, the low-goal University Cup and a handful of subsidiary prizes and awards.
As the first tournament that gallops off the second leg of the glamorous national polo tour, the Zaria event is guaranteed to be the most exciting and highly competitive and lots of fun.
Billed for its traditional Queen Elizabeth Road Polo Ground venue, the weeklong event is a must attend as most of the big names in Nigerian polo are expected to showcase their skills.
Zaria polo is all about the Royal Signal Cup, the tournament biggest and one of the most wanted polo prizes in the country. The allure for the title comes from the fact that the winner of this prestigious prize is crowned the king of Zaria polo.
From the foremost lawn of Queen Elizabeth polo ground, the Calvary will move to the capital territory Abuja for the Unity Polo Tournament billed for the exquisite Guards Polo Club before returning to Kaduna State for the 2023 edition of the Access Bank-UNICEF Charity polo tournament.
Reputed as the biggest charity polo event in Africa, the UNICEF Charity Shield polo that extended its frontiers to South Africa last year has raised the much needed funds for UNICEF in support of projects aimed at alleviating the plights of the underprivileged children in Kaduna State and its environs.
Last year, the project commissioned school activities at the Maraban Jos Primary School by the Wife of Kaduna State Governor and UNICEF Ambassador, Hajia Ummi Mallam EL-Rufai.
In addition, Access Bank Plc donated an additional Ten Million Naira donation (N10m) as part of its commitment to its yearly donation to the UNICEF Charity Shield interventions drive in Nigeria.
The Nigerian edition of the tournament is the second phase of the fund raising platform series that was inaugurated in South Africa in 2022. The third and final phase of the intervention effort that raised over three hundred millions so far, will climax in Europe with the Access Bank Charity Shield Polo Day in London.