Tag: Minna Bago

Defending Champions, Jos Malcomines, Katsina Kangiwa, Minna Bago are set for sensational  defence of their titles as the 2026 Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament, themed “United by The Game”, gallops off this weekend at the foremost GRA Polo Ground in the Garden City.

The trio led by the Jos-based polo kings that won the high goal trophy last year, have laid strong claims to retain the titles insisting that they are in the Garden City for more Niger Delta polo glories this year.

The 2026 prestigious annual festival will also serve as a special memorial, marking 20 years since the passing of past club president and polo icon,  Roland Cookey-Gam.

The President of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Prince Henry Agbodjan, who disclosed this at a media briefing, stated that this year’s edition seeks to deepen unity and inclusiveness, declaring that the annual festival has over the years, serves as a major commercial boost for Rivers State economy as well as the Niger Delta region.

“As part of preparations for this tournament, we have one of our own who we lost 20 years ago in a plane crash. Rowland Cookey-Gam as you can see clearly in the emblem for this year’s tournament.”

 “This year, we’re going to use this tournament to eulogize him, remember him, and of course, appreciate his work for polo within the Harcourt Polo Club and polo in general around the world.”

Prince Agbodjan noted that the club was able to achieve its goals during the last tournament, especially in the area of catching them young and taking polo to the grassroots.  “So, we are going to build on the program that was very well received by the public by intensifying the program.”

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He commended the Rivers State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alongside other private and corporate sponsors for their continued support to the club over the years, whilst assuring that the flagship polo tournament in the country would continue to draw people from all walks of life.

Major prizes to be contested for in the weeklong carnival include King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King T.J.T Princewill, T.Y Danjuma, Armed Forces Remembrance, President, Governor Cups, as well the Rowland Cookey-Gam played in honour of late former president of the club, Rowland Cookey-Gam.

Captain of Port Harcourt Polo Club, Dr. Ikenna Nebolisa who also confirmed that Port Harcourt was ready to rock in the weeklong polo extravaganza, disclosed that players from Iran, Mexico, England, Argentina, among others would be participating at the tourney, in addition to entries from Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jos.

He noted that the tournament, themed ‘United in the Game,’ aims to provide a lively and enjoyable experience for polo enthusiasts nationwide, with billboard entertainment and a variety of social activities to spice the New Year celebrations.

The captain added that, apart from the matches, attendees could look forward to opportunities to purchase items at affordable rates from the tournament’s Micro Market throughout the fiesta.

Dr. Nebolisa also disclosed that matches would take place daily while the teams would compete in high-goal, medium goal and Low-goal categories.

One of the major highlights of the just concluded 2024/2025 Jos polo fiesta that saw Murtala Laushi and his top firing Miners extend their supremacy to a record  sixth Governor’s Cup title, was the impressive debut of the Niger Foods’  powered Minna Bago team that finished as the best  newcomers of the tournament.

The Minna polo warriors loaded with experienced Minna-based  big names like Ahmed Salisu,  Minna Polo Captain, Jamilu Kings and Alhassan Aliyu, were the cynosure of the tournament as they filed out in their Minna Bago’s  team colours throughout  the weeklong polo fiesta.

Empowered by Niger Foods and motivated to bring top honours to the state, the Bago big Boys who competed for the crowded President Cup series that pitted over ten teams from across the country, finished on high, winning the Best Debutants team award of the international polo that thrilled from December 28, 2024 to January 2, 2025.

The emergence of the Bago polo team as the best debutants propelled their counterparts, Minna Profile team, to go all out to clinch the President Cup, their first major polo title in the glamorous Jos polo festival.

The impressive campaign of the Minna polo contingent during the fiesta was crowned on the final day when Team Bago defender, Ahmed Salisu won election into the National Executive Committee as the Assistant Treasurers of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF).

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 “It is worthy to note that the game of Polo has for several decades now maintained its pre-eminent position as the leading catalyst for sports, recreation, peace and tourism in Niger State and Nigeria at large and we in the Minna Bago team are prepared to build on that cherished tradition,” noted  members of  the Bago team .

Last July, the prestigious Minna 2024 Annual Polo Tournament  lived up to its billing as the most popular annual sporting fiesta in Niger State with rich in colours, top class competition and unparallel in excitement.

Hosted by the Niger State Government and Niger Foods as one of the major sponsors, that grand event pitched most of the biggest names in Nigerian polo and an impressive assemblage of teams from across the country, was unique in many ways.

One of the major highlights of the Minna polo fiesta was undoubtedly the debut of the Phoenix team by the second generation of Babangida’s polo-playing family who won the Aisha Babangida Cup defeating two oppositions to the prize.

The Phoenix parading Zayan Fodio, Fatima Mohammad, Khalil Mohammad and Khalifa Mohammad playing their first ever Minna polo tournament in the colours of Minna Phoenix team , defeated Niger Fresh and EL-Amin International School polo teams to win their first ever Minna Polo major trophy.

Expectedly, many time champions and title holders, EL-Amin playing as EL-Amin/Keffi Ponys edged visiting Jos Malcomines polo team at the foremost IBB Polo Ground 4-31/ 2 in a fiercely fought final decided before a full house including the Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, to retain the IBB Cup and the Abdulsalami Cup respectively.

Other top winners of the week-long polo festival   include Minna EL-Amin (1) team that edged their Profile rivals to win the Governor Cup and Minna Bago team that finished runners-up in the fiercely contested Gen. Hassan Katsina Cup.

As the popularity of the noble game of kings spread across Niger State, the State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has disclosed that his administration will construct a more befitting polo field in the State to enhance the  image of  the sport.

The Farmer Governor who stated this at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Minna National Polo Tournament, described Polo as a game, full of entertainment and excitement, said the new polo field would make the sport more attractive especially for younger generations.