The just concluded annual Yola Polo Festival was another spectacular and electrifying heritage featuring vibrant crowds, prestigious cups and distinguished royal presence.
Reputed as a platform for traditional culture and sportsmanship and praised for its successful fusion of tradition and innovation, had Jos-based Malcomines polo team and home crowd favourites, Yola Haske & Williams teams making all the headlines.
For six action-packed days, the Lamido Musdafa Polo Ground in Damare, Yola, was filled with thousands of spectators cheering all the over 25 participating teams to victories until defending champions, Malcomines came on top.
The Murtala Laushi-powered Malcomines’ contingent emerged proud winners of the event’s biggest title, while their second team, Crown Club Resort outpaced two determined oppositions to clinch the second most wanted prize, the Lamido Cup.
The Patron of the moment, Abdulrahaman Bashir Haske, gave the teeming Yola polo enthusiasts plenty to celebrate by leading his Haske & Williams and Bijou Africa Race teams to finish tops in the Governor Cup and the Lamido Cups respectively.
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The prestigious polo festival also saw Bauchi Valadora team enjoying podium celebration as Lamido Cup winners while outsiders, Sadauki Star Boys from Jalingo in Taraba State, wrote their names in gold as winners of the crowded Emir of Mubi Cup.
Reputed as a significant cultural festival for Adamawa State and a gathering point for royalty, the glamorous fiesta lived up to its reputation producing news champions in the other major prizes and the loaded new laurels on offer during the closing ceremony that brought the curtain on the festival.
Adamawa State Governor, RT, Honourable Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri reiterated his administration commitment to continue partnering, supporting and also creating an enabling environment that will make Adamawa attractive for hosting such tournaments.
He declared that owing to the importance attached to the sporting event, it has graciously turned the state capital as the hub of the Northeast saying that in the past one week since the tournament was kicked-off; the state capital has witnessed tourism, economic and social activities.
The tournament serves as a platform for national unity and sporting development, a commitment reinforced by the Governor’s promise to continue promoting such events that produced winners and runners-up in many subsidiary prizes and individual awards.
Some of the subsidiary laurels are Wali Adamawa Cup, Umar A Marafa Cup, Window Agro Allied Cup, Sardauna Adamawa Cup, Sarki Dawaki Mai Tula Cup, Salim Goje Cup, Engr. Mahmud Me Dahiru Cup and Beginners Cup, among others.
First Vice President of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF), Tanko Ayuba who congratulated the winners and all participating players, 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.
Captain of Yola Polo Club, Ashraf Yahaya thanked the Adamawa State Government and the Lamido Adamawa, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa and all the corporate and individuals partners for the unnerving commitment to the promotion of the noble game.
He expressed satisfaction at the turn out and the high level of competitions at the 2025 Yola international event, adding that he was looking forward to more excitement in Yola next year and other NPF sanctioned polo events across the country.