The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Malcomines

  • Malcomines, Police, Army win big  at Bauchi polo fiesta

    Malcomines, Police, Army win big  at Bauchi polo fiesta

    The ancient kingdom of Bauchi  celebrated one of its grandest moments as polo patrons, players and dignitaries turned up in styles to celebrate their biggest sporting cum tourism festival  during  a week-long fiesta.

    From the highly entertaining Beginners game that threw up a handful of promising talents, to the tough competitions for the major laurels and personal participation of the Special Guest of Honour, Emir Bauchi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ridwanu Suleiman Adamu, the event was indeed a spectacle to watch. 

    The finale  which was decided before a capacity crowd at the foremost Col. A.D Umar Polo Ground, produced proud winners in four broad titles categories, with host Bauchi teams winning one out of the four major cups on offer.

    Expectedly, defending champions, Jos Malcomines edged former champions, Bauchi Dokaji to win the event’s biggest prize, Governor Cup which incidentally  was their fifth straight victories even as added the newly inaugurated Mujaddadi Cup in a show of  utmost supremacy.

     “We are proud of our achievements in Bauchi over the years and I want to thank our teeming supporters across the country for their loyalty to Malcomines polo,” declared the elated team captain, Hamisu Buba. “The last time we clashed with Bauchi Dokaji in the final, it was decided on a toss after two draws.

    “ But this time , we followed  through with two spectacular wins to confirm our dominance as the champions of Bauchi polo,” Buba added moments after lifting the Governor Cup.

    The week-long 2024 Bauchi annual polo was much more than just a sporting festival. It was a thrilling spectacle featuring Nigeria’s finest  talents whose enthusiasm thrilled the spectators from start to finish.

    The biggest roar of the tournament came from the Nigerian Police team and the Nigeria Army team respectively just as home polo fans, celebrated Bauchi Mujaddadi for winning the Emir of Bauchi Cup.

    The IGP of Police team led by the Chairman Nigeria Police Polo Association (NPPA), CSP Usman Machika, fired past four tough oppositions to clinch the highly -rated Tafawa Balewa Cup, a prize played in memory of the Nigeria’s first Prime Minister on first attempt.

    The Police polo boss who lauded his teammates for their commitment and discipline throughout the tournament, highlighted the importance of fostering youth involvement in the noble game even as he praised Buachi Polo Club for hosting  yet another successful tournament.

    Read Also: Olympics: AFN,NOC bicker over Ofili’s botched  100m bid

    There was celebration galore in neighbouring Jos as 3 Division Polo team carted  home the glittering Kuyambana Wase Cup.  The 3 Division Jos Polo team led by Col. Y Bello and the Acting Assistant Director 3 Division Legal Service, Major Aminu Mairuwa, overwhelmed their opponents 4- 0 in a fierce encounter.

    Other top winners of the polo fiesta includes  Kano Gilasso team that narrowly edged their Bauchi opponents, 41/2-4 to win the Sarkin Fulani Cup; just as the only female player in the tournament, Hadiza MA led her team to win the Beginners Cup.

    In their closing remarks, Vice President of Bauchi Polo Club, Gen I.I Adamu alongside the Vice President, Aliyu Sambo and Secretary Haruna Ningi, expressed  their delight with the state government and other sponsors for their loyalty to the sports of kings. 

    They also lauded the sportsmanship, discipline and peaceful conduct of both the players and spectators

    Special Guest of Honour at the grand finale, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, congratulated the winners of various trophies and all participants, describing polo as a special game that drives tourists to the state.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Sport and Youth Development, Salisu Gamawa, he further added that polo and other sports are given all the necessary boost in the state to develop to its highest potentials. He called on the people to be dedicated and be committed to nation building and peaceful coexistence through sports.

  • Malcomines, Fintiri highlight 2023 Yola Polo Festival

    Malcomines, Fintiri highlight 2023 Yola Polo Festival

    The just concluded 2023 Yola international polo tournament was grand in all fronts. From the crowded stands loaded with first class traditional rulers to the pulsating games, the sensational display of supremacy by defending champions, Jos Malcomines, the prestigious event was indeed grand.

    The week-long fiesta presented 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 and upcoming polo patrons and players to display their awesome skills as they jostle for honours.

    In their trademark attacking campaigns that drew massive thumbs up from Adamawa State Governor and Special Guest of Honour, Umaru Fantiri; Jos Malcomines defeated the ambitious NSK Farm polo team from Argungu, Kebbi State in the final game of the fiesta to emerge the overall champions of the fiesta.

    Polo Royals report that the Murtala Laushi powered miners from the Plateau State who were still celebrating their victory at the recently concluded Keffi Polo Ranch tourney earlier in the year, added the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Cup to their loaded trophy shelf.

    “It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t describe the first time we 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 boys. It’s a huge honour.”

    Read Also; NCDMB warns oil firms against reduction in compliance, tax revenue

    Another sublime achievement saw the debuting Crown Club & Resort polo team from Jos outpaced home crowd favourites, Yola Fombina team pivoted by their “Little General” Asharaf Yahaya and Isa Kwame to write their names on gold, clinching the highly revered Lamido Adamawa Cup on first attempt

    Polo Royals also report that at the end of six days of exciting and intensive campaigns, Yola Yola T.A. Stable warriors gave their teeming supporters plenty to celebrate about after defeating three other highly ambitious oppositions to win the INTEL’s Cup

    Urged on by the crowd, Yola AFDIN made it two for host Yola after winning all their games to the final, to lift the M.C.Tahir Cup that featured teams from Bauchi, Kaduna and Maiduguri in the winners-takes-all low-goal contest.

     Visiting West Stream Ponies from Zaria became the only visiting side to earn a major prize from 2023 Yola polo festival, after firing past Bauchi and Maiduguri A&T team respectively, to clinch the M.C. Tahir Cup runners-up title.

    Special Guest of Honour, Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State who arrived at the event in his polo jersey, pledged his administration would continue to partner Yola polo Club to greater heights, congratulated the winners and urged losers to prepare better ahead of the 2024 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.

    President Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), Nura Sani Kangiwa who was voted into office last year in Jos, congratulated the winners and all participating players for making the Yola 2023 tournament such an unforgettable fiesta.

    He assured that the game ruling authority will continue to support the Yola Polo Club commitment to promoting the noble game of kings that has been played annually across the country for over a century now.

    “I want to thank 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 NSK polo Patron added.

    The NPF boss who led the Special Guest of Honour, The Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri and others dignitaries to give out the biggest prizes at a colourful closing ceremony, acknowledges the commitment of NPF for its resolve to continue 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, NASCO 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.

    In celebration of that revered heritage, the Nigerian polo fraternity and lovers of the equestrian event will gather in their droves at the Lamido Musdafa Polo Ground, to bathe in the warm 2023 Yola polo tourney, and what festival it was.