- Jos Malcomines, Agad/Rumbu, others share top honours
From the 50 teams that took part in the high-octane competition that witnessed the crowning of Jos Malcomines as the latest kings of Kano polo, the 2023 edition of the century old polo extravaganza left in its trials memories that will linger.
One of such legacies was the commanding performance Murtala Laushi and his Malco Miners who wrote their names in gold as the first Jos-based polo patron to win the highly revered Emir of Kano Cup, defeating two arch-rivals, Abuja Rubicon and defending champions, Kano Lintex in a gusty campaign.
The prestigious polo fiesta witnessed by first class Emirs, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau and Seyi Tinubu who arrived the Usman Dantata Polo Group venue of the fiesta amid cheers, among others, saw the Plateau State flagship team Malcomines outpacing the Rest team to add the Sir Muhammadu Sanusi Cup, their second major title in Kano this year.
Laushi’s second team, Jos Crown Polo team were the cynosure of polo buffs throughout the prestigious 2023 festival as they ran out the surprise winners, carting home the event second biggest prize, the Dantata Cup on first attempt.
Host, Kano Polo Club that threw in the largest contingent contesting for all the major titles at stake had Habib Buhari and Sadiq Dantata to thank as their combined Agad/ Rumbu team triumph in the hotly contested Dangote Cup, while Buhari’s Rumbu team finished runners-up winners in the Dantata Cup rumble.
Vice Chairman Kano Polo Club, Tajudeen Dantata who described the polo extravaganza as a spectacular atmosphere of thrilling eight days of top-class polo that captivated the enthusiasm of polo buffs like never before, congratulated all the winners and runners-up for their victories.
“We are satisfied with the record turnout of visiting teams and the high level of competitions at the international event. He said he was looking forward to more excitement in Kano next year and at other polo events across the country,” the immediate past Captain of Kano polo declared.
“I want to thank the good people of Kano, all the players and polo buffs for their loyalty to the Kano international polo tournament, one of the biggest and the most exciting polo festivals in the country and indeed Africa,” he added.
Lagos Ikoyi team pulled off spectacular campaign finishing winners in the crowded MRS Cup, edging top gunners, AA polo from Kaduna on penalties to give teeming supporters plenty to celebrate about as they make the long journey back to their Ribadu Road base in Lagos.
One other participant that was applauded for their discipline and horsemanship was the Nigeria Polo team who made a return to the Kano polo firestorm after a long while.
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Led by the Chairman of Nigeria Police Polo Association (NPPA), CSP Usman Machika, they laid siege for the MRS Cup and the Dangote Cup respectively and won a combined honours of the Most Disciplined and the Most Turn Out Team respectively.
CSP Machika who led the Police Strikers to pay a courtesy call on the Kano State Commissioner of Police in his Bompai office, declared that their participation was part of police build-up to the Kaduna International Polo Tournament in Jos where they are defending the title they won last December.
Chairman Kano Polo Club, Bashir Dantata led other dignitaries like the Emir of Kano, Deputy Senate President and other to dignitaries, to give out the prizes to the winners and the runners up at a colourful closing ceremony that brought down the curtain on one of the most exciting Kano polo festivals.