With Nigeria’s 64th Independence celebrations now behind us, all eyes are on the ancient kingdom of Adamawa as this year’s Yola International Polo Tournament set to gallop-off on October 14.
No other sporting event captures the essence and the cultural heritage of the ancient Fombina Emirates Kingdom like the annual Yola Polo Tournament.
Since its inaugural edition was held at the Eastern Gate of the Lamido Palace in the mid-1930s, the sporting festival has grown in popularity and prestige over the years.
In celebration of that revered heritage, the Nigerian polo fraternity and lovers of the equestrian sports are expected to gather in their numbers at the Lamido Musdafa Polo Ground for this year’s edition of the polo festival and what a fiesta it promises be.
The decision to hold the prestigious polo fiesta in October was approved by the National Council of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) and Yola Polo Club Captain, Alhaji Mohammed Baba , noted that the festival will hold between October 14 and 19. “On behalf of Yola Polo Club, I’m very happy to report that all is now set for Yola 2024 as we have put everything in place to make this 64th Independence Anniversary edition very special for the players, our numerous guests and thousands of the expected polo enthusiasts,” Baba declared.
Yola Club Secretary, Usman Saad who apologised for the inconvenience that may have cost all visiting players, sponsors, invited guests and polo enthusiasts, the grand polo fiesta which remains the single biggest sporting event in the entire Fombina Kingdom, attracts tourists in their droves to Adamawa State annually.
“Owing to loss of lives and displacement activities in neighbouring Maiduguri and indeed the flood alert warning by the Adamawa State Government starting from September 16, Yola Polo Club in consultation with the Nigerian Polo Federation and other stakeholders decided to move the tournament forward by two weeks.”
Majorly sponsored by the Adamawa State Government and hosted by His Royal Highness, Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa since 15 after he succeeded his father at the exalted throne, this edition of the festival is a must to attend for all the big names of the noble game
The prestigious event, which is one of the major events on the Nigerian Polo Federation annual calendar, also has other blue chip organizations as well as emirates councils and individual partners as its major benefactors, among others.
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Main prizes at stake during the week-long polo extravaganza include the high stake Governor’s Cup and The Lamido Cup which is the oldest prize in the over 70 years old history of Yola polo.
Others are INTEL Cup, ABTI Cup, General Hassan Cup, A.A. Mustapha Cup, and M.C. Tahir Cup among others.
Last year, the Yola international polo tournament that was highlighted by the grand entry of Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fintiri as the Special Guest of Honour.
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 let the sparks fly in all directions.
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 applause from Governor Fantiri, 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.
Debuting Crown Club & Resort polo team from Jos outpaced home crowd favourites, Yola Fombina team pivoted by Asharaf Yahaya and Isa Kwame, to win the highly revered Lamido Adamawa Cup on first attempt.