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Kaduna’2009 Polo: El-Amin’s Khalifa Savours N.1m Cup Victory
- By Magnus Nmegwa
- Published December 13th, 2009
- SportWorld
- Unrated
Life could not be much sweeter for Khalifa Adam at the moment. The Kaduna based beginner was the cynosure of all eyes at the Kaduna’2009 International Polo Tournament that climaxed with fanfare recently.
Adam who was playing his first real polo tournament since picking up the mallets few years ago, joined the exclusive list of best performers at the prestigious polo carnival that featured professionals from Europe and South Africa. That list has such big names like, Ibrahim Mohammed who played a pivotal role in EL-Amin’s fourth successive reign as Georgian Cup kings, and Musa Yahaya who turned every head with his impressive run in Kaduna Keffi Pony campaign for the glittering Dickenson Cup.
While the EL-Amin hit-man, Mohammed and Yahaya who was playing his first major tournament this year, distinguished themselves, among the over sixty other established players vying for honours, Adam went a step further to write his name in gold, winning the Most Improved Player Award.
“It is surprising a lot of people said I played so well in this tournament. Though I really enjoyed myself during the games, I never really thought I made such an impression because my job commitment allows me no time for practice.” Yahaya said shortly after their titanic local derby against YY Kaduna.
“He is quite okay for his handicap. Musa is a team player. He marks well and scored vital goals during our games and I’m looking forward to playing with him again,” declared four goals professional from South Africa, Clive Millman who pivoted Keffi Pony.
For Adam, Kaduna’2009 tournament would be eked in his memory for life. Apart from picking the award, he also smiled home with a N100,000 cash reward as the best performer in the EL-Amin Cup series.
“I want to thank Alhaji Mohammed Babangida for instituting this cash award, the first ever in the history of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) sanctioned tournament. I never really did not fancy myself for the award in a crowded field dominated by more experienced players,” declared Adam.
His participation in the tournament was another miracle, because as a beginner, Adam did not make the final list of players and was only lucky to adorn the colours of Kaduna Malali team as a sub for Umar Nagogo who made it late to the event.
“I thank God for this golden opportunity. With this prize, I hope to put in my best and practice more to improve my game and be a good example for other upcoming beginners,” added the zero handicapped player who played alongside Sani Yau Kura, Ahmed Aminu and Kabiru Mohammed.
The low-goal EL-Amin Cup that made history as the only cup in Nigerian polo that gives out cash prize attracted a record 20 teams on its first year of competition.
EL-Amin Chairman, Mohammed Babangida was impressed by the large turn of teams for the cup that has taken its pride of place as one of the four main trophies to be competed for annually in Kaduna.
Babangida who donated a secretariat in Kaduna to the NPF, said EL-Amin Cup is part of his efforts to popularize the king of games in Nigeria and encourage the upcoming ones to improve their games. “We are pleased with the turn and the enthusiasm of the young players. While we are committed to sustaining the cup here in Kaduna, we may consider introducing the prize at another major tournament within the country,” he hinted exclusively.
Adam who was playing his first real polo tournament since picking up the mallets few years ago, joined the exclusive list of best performers at the prestigious polo carnival that featured professionals from Europe and South Africa. That list has such big names like, Ibrahim Mohammed who played a pivotal role in EL-Amin’s fourth successive reign as Georgian Cup kings, and Musa Yahaya who turned every head with his impressive run in Kaduna Keffi Pony campaign for the glittering Dickenson Cup.
While the EL-Amin hit-man, Mohammed and Yahaya who was playing his first major tournament this year, distinguished themselves, among the over sixty other established players vying for honours, Adam went a step further to write his name in gold, winning the Most Improved Player Award.
“It is surprising a lot of people said I played so well in this tournament. Though I really enjoyed myself during the games, I never really thought I made such an impression because my job commitment allows me no time for practice.” Yahaya said shortly after their titanic local derby against YY Kaduna.
“He is quite okay for his handicap. Musa is a team player. He marks well and scored vital goals during our games and I’m looking forward to playing with him again,” declared four goals professional from South Africa, Clive Millman who pivoted Keffi Pony.
For Adam, Kaduna’2009 tournament would be eked in his memory for life. Apart from picking the award, he also smiled home with a N100,000 cash reward as the best performer in the EL-Amin Cup series.
“I want to thank Alhaji Mohammed Babangida for instituting this cash award, the first ever in the history of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) sanctioned tournament. I never really did not fancy myself for the award in a crowded field dominated by more experienced players,” declared Adam.
His participation in the tournament was another miracle, because as a beginner, Adam did not make the final list of players and was only lucky to adorn the colours of Kaduna Malali team as a sub for Umar Nagogo who made it late to the event.
“I thank God for this golden opportunity. With this prize, I hope to put in my best and practice more to improve my game and be a good example for other upcoming beginners,” added the zero handicapped player who played alongside Sani Yau Kura, Ahmed Aminu and Kabiru Mohammed.
The low-goal EL-Amin Cup that made history as the only cup in Nigerian polo that gives out cash prize attracted a record 20 teams on its first year of competition.
EL-Amin Chairman, Mohammed Babangida was impressed by the large turn of teams for the cup that has taken its pride of place as one of the four main trophies to be competed for annually in Kaduna.
Babangida who donated a secretariat in Kaduna to the NPF, said EL-Amin Cup is part of his efforts to popularize the king of games in Nigeria and encourage the upcoming ones to improve their games. “We are pleased with the turn and the enthusiasm of the young players. While we are committed to sustaining the cup here in Kaduna, we may consider introducing the prize at another major tournament within the country,” he hinted exclusively.
