The just concluded 2024 Yola international polo tournament was a grand fiesta on all fronts.
From the crowded stands loaded with first class traditional rulers to the pulsating games and of course, the sensational display of supremacy by defending champions, Jos Malcomines.
The week-long event was a perfect platform for the Jos-based polo lords to make history as the first team to win the grand tournament fourth time on the trot as the upcoming polo patrons and players jostled for honours with awesome display of skills and guts.
In their trademark attacking campaigns that drew applause from the Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fantiri, who was the special guest of honour, Jos Malcomines defeated the ambitious, home crowd favourites, Yola Haske Willimas Polo Team in the final game to emerge the overall champions of the fiesta.
Incidentally, the Murtala Laushi-powered miners from Plateau State were still celebrating their victory at the recently concluded Katsina Centenary tourney before adding the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Cup to their loaded trophies’ cabinet.
“It’s unbelievable because I couldn’t describe the feelings when we first won; so I don’t know how to put this one into words,” Malcomines’ patron, Laushi said. “It’s an amazing feeling and I’m just so proud of all the players. It’s a huge honour.”
Another sublime achievement saw the returnees Zaria Westream /NSK polo team from Argungu outpaced homers, Yola S.T. Stable team that was powered by their ‘Little General’ Asharaf Yahaya and Fernando Munuz to write their names in gold by clinching the highly revered Lamido Adamawa Cup.
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The six-days exciting and intensive campaigns saw Yola Mangal Cement warriors giving their teeming supporters plenty to celebrate about after defeating three other ambitious oppositions to win the debuting Emir of Mubi Cup sponsored by the Adamawa Governor, Umaru Fintiri.
Urged by the crowd, Yola Mangal Cement lived up to their pre-tournament rating, navigating through a crowded opposition, to lift the Emir of Mubi Cup that featured teams more experienced from Bauchi and Yola in the winners-takes-all low-goal contest.
Debuting Lamido Palace Boys made a sensational entry into the prestigious Yola polo fiesta as they smashed their way to the winners’ podium, defeating their highly rated Valerado Team from Bauchi to clinch the Intels Cup title on first attempt.
Governor Fintiri who was represented by the Chief of Staff Government House, pledged his administration continuous partner with Yola polo Club and congratulated the winners even as he urged the losers to prepare better ahead of the 2025 edition of the polo festival.
“Polo brings together youth irrespective of tribe or religious differences, to interact thereby fostering unity. Sports generally and polo in particular is a big diplomatic and tourism tool that we are going to leverage to the fullest to reposition Adamawa the “Land of Beauty” as an international business and tourism destination,” Gov. Fintiri added.
First Vice President Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), Tanko Ayuba , who received the state government contingent, congratulated the winners and all participating players for making the Yola 2024 tournament such an unforgettable fiesta.
He assured that the Adamawa State Governor will continue to support the Yola Polo Club’s commitment in promoting the noble game of kings that has been played annually across the country for about a century now.
“I want to thank the state government and the good people of Adamawa, all the players and polo buffs for their loyalty to the event and for making the Yola international polo tournament one of the biggest and the most exciting polo festivals in the country and indeed Africa,” the Ayutan polo team patron added.
The NPF boss who led the Special Guest of Honour, emirs and other dignitaries to give out the biggest prizes at a colourful closing ceremony, acknowledged the commitment of Governor Fintiri and his resolve to lift the tournament to greater heights.
Subsidiary prizes carted home by winners during the fiesta that attracted polo buffs from across the country and beyond include the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Cup and Lamido Musdafa Cup played in everlasting memory of the immediate past Lamido of Adamawa, among others.
No sporting event captures the essence and cultural heritage of the Adamawa Kingdom like the annual polo tournament. Since the inaugural edition was held at the Eastern Gate of the Lamido Palace in the mid-1930s, the tournament has grown steadily in popularity and prestige.