Tag: POLO

Fresh from the historic maiden edition of the just concluded African Chovken Championship, the Federal Capital City (FCT), Abuja, is buzzing ahead of the eagerly awaited 2025 Abuja Carnival International Polo Festival scheduled to gallop off amid pomp and ceremony from December 1, at the serene Guards Polo Resort in Asokoro.

Acting Captain of Guard Polo Club, Abba Kangiwa who confirmed that preparations for the prestigious event is at advance stages with the tournament committee, team patrons and players perfecting strategies ahead of the December date, pointed out the event will thrill till December 14, 2025 in Asokoro, Abuja.

Noted for its cutting-edge competition, excitement and grandeur, this polo tournament is one of the major additions to the annual Abuja City Carnival that remains the biggest sporting-cum tourism attraction to the FCT and its environs.

Already, there is an upscale of activities at the resort with the turf, the clubhouse, the stables and the general surroundings receiving attention just as the players and the horses are getting ready with practice sessions ahead of the week-long fiesta.

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The Abuja Carnival Polo Tournament has long been recognized as a premier event, blending the elegance of polo with Nigeria’s vibrant cultural heritage this 2025 edition of the tournament is expected to reach new heights, offering an enhanced experience for players, guests, and the broader community.

Started  in 2009 to complement the Abuja City Carnival, a month-long festival featuring sporting events, cultural displays and parades from major ethnic groups across the country and around the capital city in celebration of the unity of Nigeria.

Major prizes to be won include the President Cup that tops the pack as the event’s biggest trophy. Others are the FCT Minister’s Cup, the Legislative Shield, and the crowded Guards Brigade Trophy as well as a handful of subsidiary cups and awards.

The prestigious 2025 Abuja Carnival Polo Tournament is expected to climax with fanfare at the serene Guards Polo Resort with regular teams like the Nigerian Police team, Army team, Rubicon, Jos Malcomines and others carting home top laurels from grandiose fiesta that celebrates the noble game of kings with the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.

Last year, Seyi Tinubu-powered STL polo team was one of the biggest winners of the carnival, carting home the Moniepoint Cup, delivering a sterling performance to the admiration of polo enthusiasts that witnessed the pulsating final.

STL Polo locked in an intense battle with Rubicon in a titanic match that epitomized the raw passion and technical excellence of high-goal polo. With a final score of 81/2-5, STL clinched the prize and demonstrated why they are considered an emerging force in the Nigerian polo landscape.

Max Air team won their first ever Legislative Shield in the event’s grand finale, just as FK3 warriors powered past their Musaco opponents to emerge winners of the FCT Minister’s Cup

The prestigious Abuja carnival polo debuted in 2009 to complement the Abuja City Carnival, a month-long festival featuring sporting events, cultural displays and parades from major ethnic groups across the country and around the capital city in celebration of the unity of Nigeria.

Defending champions and past winners like Jos Malcomines, Nigerian Army, Police, Rubicon and Max Air, top the list of teams expected to jostle for laurels as the tournament blasts off at the foremost Guards Polo Ranch in the Federal Capital City.

Already, over twenty teams from across the country are amassing in Abuja ahead of what promises to be one of the most contested editions in the history of the fiesta that remains the biggest tourism cum polo event to the Center of Unity.

Checks also revealed that a long-list of top dignitaries including top government officials, state governors, first class Emirs, Royals Fathers, politicians, top business tycoons, and diplomats are expected at the grand polo fiesta.

As preparations get underway for the upcoming 2025 Kaduna international polo tournament gathers momentum, a new ‘sheriff’  is expected in town as Clearwater Farm Polo Team has concluded plans to make a debut during the prestigious fiesta.

Chairman of Clearwater Farm Polo, Brigadier General Kapeh Alwali Kazir (rtd), hinted his side  is set to make its main debut at the 2025 Kaduna  International Polo Tournament, underscoring its ambition to expand Nigeria’s equestrian landscape.

 “This opportunity allows us to showcase not only our horses but our team’s skill and the dedication and excellence that define Clearwater Farms,” Kazir said. “Our goal here is principally to inspire greater appreciation for Polo and to offer unparalleled equestrian services that meet the needs of players, horse owners and families across the country.

With a five-decade heritage, Clearwater Farms offers a comprehensive suite of equestrian services. Its Kaduna facilities house over 60 horses and provide stabling, horse rentals, transportation and training programmes for children and adults, including a beginner’s riding school.

The company is expanding its operations to Abuja and Lagos, targeting new markets for equestrian sports. A key element of this expansion is the development of advanced veterinary services, including specialized diagnostic equipment and a mobile farrier unit.

Only a few months ago, Clearwater Farm  Polo, who are the proud winners of the Late Dapo Ojora Cup at the 2025 Lagos polo tournament and Access Bank Cup champions at the Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo, was the brighter star as one of the major sponsors at the Late Dawule Baba Tournament.

Kazir explained that in identifying with the event, Clearwater Farm  Polo was keying into the highly treasured legacies of the late “Teacher” whose passion for the game transcends a mere love for the noble game of polo.

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 “Teacher (Dawule Baba) who was part of our team often gave us technical advice and encouragement and by sponsoring the Clearwater Beginners Cup, Babies & Toddlers Cup and the Clearwater Youth Challenge Cup, we are preserving his legacies of training, mentoring, and encouragement of upcoming players, among others,” he said.

Kazir who is supervising the team’s  preparations for forthcoming 2025 Kaduna tournament as the First Vice President Kaduna Polo Club, assured that everything is being put in place for another exciting and memorable Kaduna polo tournament reputed for its intensity and  camaraderie

Kaduna remained the home of the glittering Georgian Trophy which was contested for in Nigeria by high-goal teams way back in 1919. Other major prizes that would be carted home by the winners during the upcoming 2025 Kaduna polo festival include the Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup and El Amin Cup.

Meanwhile,  Kazir has hailed the commitment of the Tournament Committee under Malam Atiku Abubakar Saleh, saying  the tourney will be the best organized in recent times to make up for the club’s inability to host the fiesta last year due to African Horse Sickness {AHS}

He listed other top laurels that would be at stake during the prestigious polo festival to include Isa Kaita, Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Cup, Sardauna Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, Shehu Kangiwa Cup, Musa Yar’Adua Cup, Dangote Cup and Beginners Cup, among others.

The highly-anticipated 2025 Kano International Polo Tournament is expected to gallop off in grand style on  September 21 with thrills till early October.

A release from the Organizing committee stated that the prestigious polo fiesta earlier billed for September 24 has been moved forward due to an overwhelming record  number of entries that has now gone over 40 teams and still counting.

“Due to an overwhelming response and high turnout, we are writing to inform you that the schedule for the 2025 Kano polo tournament has been adjusted. The tournament will now commence Sunday, 21 September, 2025 instead of the previously announced September 24 for the first week,” the release stated in part.

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The release signed by the Captain of Kano Polo Club Alwan Umar who thanked all the teams for their understanding and flexibility, added that the revised schedule would ensure a smooth and successful tournament, accommodating the increased number of participants.

 The draws ceremony for the first week of the international polo extravaganza that attract over 40 teams for the Dangote and MRS cups respectively was held at the Usman Dantata Polo Club in Kano.

Kano Polo Chairman, Tajudeen Dantata who had earlier promised an exciting and memorable tournament this year, stated that preparations for the annual festival of the game of kings has been concluded with the various committees dotting the dots to deliver one of the biggest and the most enduring polo festivals yet. 

“All the committee are on ground and working to deliver all the required values to our esteemed traditional sponsors, partners, patrons, participating teams and thousands of enthusiasts who have over the decades made the Ibadan tournament a festival of choice,” Dantata assured.

“Our love and passion for the oldest team sport in the world are second to none and in all my involvements so far, we’ve demonstrated this tenacity, zeal and commitment to the promotion of the game not only in the state, but across the country generally,” the Kano polo captain added.

Glittering prizes, like the highly revered Emir of Kano Cup that pits the biggest high-goal teams top the list of attractive prizes that would be contested for during the two weeks polo extravaganza.                

Other major prizes on offer during the fiesta include the glittering Dangote Cup, the MRS Cup, the ever-vibrant, Usman Dantata Cup, Audu Lukat Cup, the Muhammadu Sanusi Cup, the Murtala Mohammed Cup, among other awards to deserving players who distinguished themselves.

Top players from Europe, Argentina and South Africa regularly participate in this prestigious fiesta are expected to showcase their skills this year, just as participants for the 2025 grand sporting showpiece would include members of the business gurus and royalties that have been promoting the noble game in the country for more than a century now.

 “We are pushing to increase spectator turnout this year, while creating more opportunities for home-based players. The level of team interest is inspiring and we look forward to watching the competition unfold in what promises to be the most exciting high-goal season ever,” he stated.

Indeed , the annual Kano polo tournament remains the biggest tourism attraction to the ancient city and has over the decades brought together the nation’s most prominent figures from different tribes, ethnic and religion in  showcasing elegance, sportsmanship, opportunities and unity in diversity.

The prestigious Minna annual polo tournament which galloped off in grand style, climaxed with fanfare last weekend with defending champions, EL-Amin and Profile team sweeping all the major titles at stake, keeping their treasured IBB Cup title.

The Georgian Cup kings, El-Amin and Profile were the brightest stars and the moon of the prestigious Minna polo festival as they harvested  most of the prizes. Apart from retaining  the Mohammad Babangida-led El-Amin  retained the event’s biggest prize, the IBB Cup, the glittering General Abdulsalami Cup and carted  home personal awards in an action-packed  week that was highlighted by the inaugural Dawule Memorial Baba Cup.

Profile Group that threw in three teams into the showdown , proved their pre-tournament rating by carting home the event’s second title, the glittering Governor Cup and the coveted  Gen. Hassan Katsina Cup in a classy display of horsemanship. 

Hailed by everyone from royalties, business gurus, diplomats to polo enthusiasts as the biggest sporting festival in Niger State, Khalid Babangida showed great improvement leading his Phoenix team to retain the Aisha Babangida Cup for the second year running.

As in an  all high-stake polo competitions in the country, the fight was always going to be between the home teams and their visiting counterparts but  it was the visitors  that were left to lick their wounds while Nigerian Army polo Warriors could only earn the runner-up winner of the Emir of Minna Cup.

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Newcomers, Minna SD Stable,  that drew its strength from Lagos and Kano-based players swept past every  other teams to write their names in gold, completing Minna dominance by  clinching their first ever Emir of Minna Cup.

It was an exciting week of top-class polo played out at its traditional venue, the IBB Sports Complex under the friendliest atmosphere you can find anywhere in the land. And at the end of the historic event, the biggest winner was polo-the noble king of sports that has  boosted rich history in Nigeria spanning over a century.

Though the event pitted combatants with evenly spread team handicaps ranging from +7 and above, it was not too surprising that at the close of the competition that threw up plenty of anxious moments, the prizes were shared with host Minna teams  smiling home with the juiciest pies.

“Coming down and playing in front of our teeming Minna fans has always been special and we’re happy to come away with a win,” said Minna Polo First Vice President and EL-Amin Patron, Mohammad Babangida. “We were always looking to get an advantage in the opening game, so this win is awesome for us; we’re happy with the result.”

 “I feel great to realize how much joy one’s effort has positively impacted the lives of the teeming polo enthusiasts across the country and Minna in particular. Their support and belief in EL-Amin have always been the driving force and I want to dedicate these victories to my teeming fans,” Babangida declared.

 Special Guest of Honour and President  of Minna Polo Club, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who took charge in the semifinal day of the grand finale, hailed the management of the tournament and congratulated all the winners and the Runners-up teams for their sportsmanship and discipline throughout the grand fiesta.

Governor  Bago who  later described Polo as a game full of entertainment and excitement, especially for younger generations, noted that all the final matches were fiercely competitive, underscoring the high standard of the annual  Minna Polo Tournament.

Preparations for the second stage of the 2025 polo season  that gets underway next month has begun in earnest  following the  end of Ramadan festivities.

With  the Easter holidays  set to complete  the short interregnum  of the on-going campaign  in the coming days, many polo venues across the northern part of the country  have started in earnest their preparations ahead of the second stage of the national tour .

Between  the next coming weeks  and  December ,  there would  beehive of activities  across clubs in the northern hemisphere  as the 2025 season  would expectedly climax in Plateau State,  with the Jos international polo tournament during the last month of the year.

Expectedly,  the second leg of the tour that would  span  over eight months on the road, will take the   second half of the season’s tour train through the North Central, North West, North East and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before  climaxing  with fanfare in Jos.

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Meanwhile,  the South West  would have the honour  to ignite the  season yet again in Ibadan after  the three-month recess  following  the  successful end  of the  three weeks’ long  Lagos international polo tournament .

Recalled  that the first part of the 2025 tour that started with the Niger Delta Polo Festival in Port Harcourt in January, will round up the  southern leg  next month with the prestigious Ibadan tournament.

Afterwards,  the national tour would take  the cream of Nigerian polo stars through  Argungu,  Minna, Kano, Bauchi,  Yola, Kaduna,  Abuja, Jos and Port Harcourt before heading back  to Lagos again in 2026.

The first phase of the tour that took off on a blistering pace last August in the ancient kingdom of Katsina, was rounded off with fanfare last February during the 2025 Lagos International Polo fiesta that saw Abuja Rubicon out pacing a robust field to win the event’s biggest crown, The Majekodunmi Cup.

While the tour lasted, the game of royalties and societal affluence did make some startling in-roads as one of the biggest corporate sports in the country, drawing new followers in their droves and adding a few new tournaments along the road.

One such significant addition during the period was the ground-breaking and the epoch-making inauguration of the Crown Club Polo Resort in Jos, Plateau State. The other being the inaugural edition of the Renewed Hope Cup contested for in Kaduna and in Yola which commenced  two years ago.

Incumbent President of Nigeria Polo Federations (NPF), Nura Kangiwa as well as Secretary General, Murtala Laushi and other top polo administrators top the list of candidates expected to vie for elective posts at the forthcoming biennial conference of the polo ruling body holding in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.

It is reliably gathered that the conference would review the activities of the Management Committee of the national body in the past two years and set a new agenda for moving the noble sports forward in the country, Africa and internationally.

The event is expected to have members of the Board of Trustee of the federation in attendance to supervise the election of a new management committee to run the affairs of NPF for the next two years.

Scheduled to hold at the Board Room of Jos Polo Clubhouse during the 2024/2025 Jos international polo tournament holding between December 25 and January 2, 2025, the conference may also consider pending applications from prospective polo clubs seeking to join the growing NPF polo family.

Our checks in Jos and other major polo clubs across the country, revealed that while teams are practising ahead of the prestigious Jos polo extravaganza, there are high wire politicking ahead of the elections, as the affiliated polo clubs pick their respective candidates.

NPF Assistant Secretary, Haruna Ningi who hinted about the election, said that all the affiliated polo clubs used the period between October and November to pick their candidates and submit the same to the NPF Electoral Committee for screening ahead of the December polls.

It was also revealed that that while all nominations and/or amendments to nominations for candidates for the various offices and delegates for the election shall close 14 days to the polls.

The Election Committee under the chairmanship of a member NPF Board of Trustee, Major General M. A. Garba (retd) shall screen and make public the list of nominees and/or delegates it has received for the elections and confirm the election date.

Candidates for the all -important election will jostle for the posts of President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Legal Adviser and Ex Officio members.

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Already, there is a high-level lobbying from very high quarters for the incumbent NPF President, Nura Sani Kangiwa who is serving his first term to continue on his transformation crusade that has seen Nigerian polo extend its global status as the power house of the game on the continent.

The incumbent Secretary, Laushi, would be serving his third tenure in office as words reaching us indicate that his candidacy has already been endorsed by many polo clubs in the NPF polo family to continue as the administrative head of the national polo authority.

Kangiwa who is also the Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), was elected into office two years ago in Jos to succeed Francis Ogboro who led the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) for decades before he voluntarily stepped down.

That election saw the emergence of eight officials to spearhead the affairs of the Federation for two years.

The elected Executive Members most of them seeking another tenure include Kangiwa (President); Tanko Ayuba (1st Vice President); Abdulkarim Jibril (2nd Vice President); Murtala Laushi (Secretary); Usman Sa’ad (Treasurer); Haruna Ningi (Assistant Secretary); Aliyu Illela (Assistant Treasurer)

Yola Polo Club Captain Mohamed Baba and Chieftain of Jos Polo Club Alhaji Salmanu complete the new national committee as Ex Officio 1 and Ex Officio 2 respectively.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the biggest shocks of the Jos polls are in the offing with strong indications that a woman may make history as the first ever female to sit in the committee as elected member

NPF is the game’s governing body recognized by the Nigerian Sports Ministry and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Federation of International Polo (FIP).

The federation oversees the activities of the noble game in the country.

The grand arrival of the Nigerian Cup , Awards Night, the first-ever female polo game and the personal participation of the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Radda of Katsina State, were some of the major highlights as the ‘home of Nigerian Polo’  celebrated the centenary of the King of Games.

Reputed for its high-flying vibrancy, excitement and glamour the 2024 Katsina polo tournament climaxed with fanfare over the weekend, throwing up major champions in four handicap categories and a handful of individual awards was an epic milestone not to be forgotten.

Jos Malcomines,  powered by Murtala Laushi, made history not only as the first Jos-based team to ever win the Nigerian Cup but they wrote their names in gold as the biggest winner of the Centenary tournament.

Defending champions, Max Air team and Distinguished Senator Hadi Sirika-led Rubicon shared the spoils of Muhammadu Dikko Cup, a tournament  played in memory of the father of Nigerian polo who pioneered the introduction and promotion of the noble game across the northern parts of Nigeria.

Katsina Danmarna and Katsina Aldusar teams powered by the Katsina Polo Club Chairman, Muhammadu Sarki, were the rave of the home crowd as they swept through tough oppositions to clinch the General Hassan Katsina Cup and the Talba Cup respectively.

The only major prize to escape the dominance Katsina teams was the Wazirin Katsina Cup that saw the hard fighting Abuja Casa Dekux team out paced home side, Katsina Gobarau 6-31/2 in the final to earn the title.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s number one polo star, Bello Buba of EL-Amin who has won the Nigerian Cup many times with three Katsina- based teams led the long list of awardees who were honoured at a colourful Gala Night hosted by the Katsina Polo Club, to reward outstanding players and individuals for their impactful contribution to the game and club in the past 100 years.

One unforgettable ethos of the festival that drew top government officials, first class emir, delegations from neighbouring West African countries was the participation of the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda who announced government readiness to repositioned the noble game in the state for the next century.

Governor Radda made the pledge when he received the delegation of the participating teams led by Katsina Polo President, Alhaji Sanusi Kabir Usman who expressed gratitude for the Governor’s continued support for the development of the Game of polo in Katsina.

Radda added that the commitment to lift polo in the state comes in recognition of the sport’s rich cultural heritage and global significance of the noble game that has over the century remained the biggest sporting festival and a major tourism attraction to Katsina.

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 “Our administration is committed to supporting polo, not just as a sport, but as a means to revive its glory and transform it into an attractive business venture that fosters mutual relationships,”Governor Radda said.

 Life Chairman of Nigerian Polo and Emir of Katsina, (HRH) Alhaji Abdulmumumini Kabir Usman,  led Governor Radda and other dignitaries to hand out prizes to the winners and Runners-up teams, and players who distinguished themselves during the eight days grand festival that attracted over 33 teams from across the country.

Elated Katsina Polo President, Chairman Muhammadu Sarki and Tournament Manager Mallam Umar Kabir Usman all expressed their gratitude to the sponsors both corporate and individuals for making the centenary celebration a grand success. Everyone’s contribution is unique and appreciated in establishing polo as a living sport in Katsina.” Sanusi Kabir declared.

 “In the past century we have travelled through thick and thin to this level of existence and without mincing words our untiring sponsors have been our pillars and strength over the years. 

“I also want to thank all the participating teams, clubs and the millions of polo buffs for making Katsina a truly Home of Polo in Nigeria,” Kabir added as the curtain fell on the prestigious festival

The ancient kingdom of Katsina is gearing up to celebrate one of their greatest moments  as the foremost prepares to host its  centenary edition of its international tournament along with its the Nigerian Cup.

President of Katsina Polo Club, Prince Sanusi Kabir, stated that the kingdom was looking forward to a grand event that would be rich in culture, colourful in prestige and more memorable than anything ever seen in the last hundred years of polo in Katsina.

The prince who has been involved in the game since his youthful days,  stated that the Centenary parade would celebrate the best of the Katsina cultural heritage as the 

‘Home of Nigerian Polo’, would feature all the biggest polo patrons a well as top Nigerian players and the polo aficionados.

Billed to gallop off  from  August  21 through  31 at its traditional venue, the legendary Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground nestling off the Eastern Gate off the Emir of Katsina Palace, would be hosted by the state government and the Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman.

As the first tournament of the new Nigerian polo season, Katsina grand event is clearly one of the biggest annual events in the country,  has continually attracted the biggest crowd ever and a must-attend for all the top teams around the country.

“This edition promises to be the most competitive and exciting as the two of Katsina polo’s most prestigious competitions, Nigerian Cup and General Hassan Cup would again be at the centre of a massive build-up and speculation frenzy,” Katsina Polo boss who has won the two titles before added.

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Not for the first time these two titles are raising up the billing as the tournament’s star attractions because of their cutting-edge staple of dramatic robust and heart stopping flourishes, the exact recipe that turns it on for polo fans who thronged the Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground in their thousands for the colourful opening ceremony.

The prestigious Nigerian Cup which remains the premier trophy in Katsina and one of the four grand slam prizes in Nigeria Polo, ranking in popularity with Georgian, Majekodunmi and Emir of Katsina, sure has some mystic around it.

What stands the Nigerian Cup out is quite simply. Apart from its pre-eminent position as the first high-goal prize to be competed for every season, it is the approach of the competing teams from Kaduna, Lagos, Abuja, Yola and lately Katsina.

Though the General Hassan Katsina Cup is a handicap notch below the Nigerian Cup , it has consistently attracted  more fans and higher value with its all-action vibrancy that easily races the adrenaline and keeps aficionados on their toes.

The crown is named after the late Life Chairman of the NPF and a prince of the ancient Katsina kingdom, General Hassan Usman Katsina, who rose to become the first African Ambassador at the world governing body, the Federation of International Polo (FIP).

Given its pre-eminent status and its royal affinity , winning General Hassan Cup title is the dream of every Katsina-born polo patron and players  as such,  they are always motivated by competitive ambitions beyond the reward, in the truest Olympian tradition.

Other prestigious prizes also at stake include the Vice President Cup, The Governor Cup, Muhammadu Kabir Cup, Usman Nagogo Memorial Cup, Dikko Memorial Cup, Lawal Kaita Cup and Maidabino Cup.

With a crowded field comprising former champions, traditional rivals and ambitious new comers, the battles for honours would indeed be fierce and the teeming polo buffs that would throng the Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Ground venue would have their money and time’s worth.