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Ibadan Polo 2010: Lagos, Kaduna, Others Set to Rumble
- By Business World
- Published Monday 18th 2010
- SportWorld
- Unrated
THE sprawling city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is warming up for one of its grandest moments, as the Nigerian polo trains head west, for this year’s Ibadan annual polo festival.
Billed for the legendary Eleyele rolling field, the polo extravaganza that draws crowd of royalties, top government officials, captain of industries and polo enthusiasts in their droves, is scheduled to gallops off January 25.
Ibadan Polo Club President, Kenneth Edet who confirmed this date assured that everything is on ground for what traditionally has been the biggest polo tournament in the whole of Oyo Kingdom.
“We are in high spirit and arrangements are in top gears for a grand polo festival in Ibadan. From every indication, Ibadan’2010 annual tournament is guaranteed to be the most exciting in so many ways and tournament committee is working around the cloak to archive just that,” Edet declared.
Reputed for its pomp and pageantry, the Ibadan fiesta that traditionally precedes the Lagos international showdown promises to be the biggest and the most competitive in years, with teams from Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and neighbouring Lagos all set for the rumble.
Ibadan Polo Club Captain, Jubrin Ali who confirmed that entries, said everything was set for a grand event with most of Nigeria’s biggest polo patrons and the best of Nigerian players are all booked for the carnival.
Some of the Nigerian high-goalers who are expected to showcase their skills to the festival in the former western region of the country out side Lagos, include Dawule Baba, Jamilu Mohammed, Bello Buba, Hamisu Buba, Ibrahim Mohammed, Ibrahim Abba, Mamuda Shehu, Adamu Yaro, Mohammed Kyari, Ibrahim Babangida among others. Ali listed the patrons to include Bashir Yar’Adua who would be hitting the Oyo capital city with two fully armed teams and trucks load of supporters for the event.
Honourable Hadi Sirika who has played and won most of the tournaments with his high flying Rubicon team, is also expected in the Eleyele polo heaven.
It is also expected that Nigeria’s polo ambassador, who started his polo career in Ibadan over three decades ago, would be leading Kaduna Kakuri in the winners’ takes all race for the Ibadan Cup during the fiesta.
Major prizes to be won during the weeklong fiesta include the prestigious Ibadan Cup which as for decades remains the biggest event cup that pits high goal teams from Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina in some of the most memorable polo finals ever witnessed in Nigeria.
Other trophies at stake include Rotimi Cup, ArthurDay Cup, Saffidinne Cup, NFL Cup and other selected prizes and awards.
The pacy Nigerian polo tour that galloped off a new season with fanfare in the ancient kingdom of Katsina last August raced through Yola, cosmopolitan city of Kaduna last November and ended the year with the winter polo of Jos last December.
From the chilly city of Jos, the tour heads southward to Port Harcourt for the Niger Delta Peace Tournament that ended with fanfare last night.
Billed for the legendary Eleyele rolling field, the polo extravaganza that draws crowd of royalties, top government officials, captain of industries and polo enthusiasts in their droves, is scheduled to gallops off January 25.
Ibadan Polo Club President, Kenneth Edet who confirmed this date assured that everything is on ground for what traditionally has been the biggest polo tournament in the whole of Oyo Kingdom.
“We are in high spirit and arrangements are in top gears for a grand polo festival in Ibadan. From every indication, Ibadan’2010 annual tournament is guaranteed to be the most exciting in so many ways and tournament committee is working around the cloak to archive just that,” Edet declared.
Reputed for its pomp and pageantry, the Ibadan fiesta that traditionally precedes the Lagos international showdown promises to be the biggest and the most competitive in years, with teams from Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and neighbouring Lagos all set for the rumble.
Ibadan Polo Club Captain, Jubrin Ali who confirmed that entries, said everything was set for a grand event with most of Nigeria’s biggest polo patrons and the best of Nigerian players are all booked for the carnival.
Some of the Nigerian high-goalers who are expected to showcase their skills to the festival in the former western region of the country out side Lagos, include Dawule Baba, Jamilu Mohammed, Bello Buba, Hamisu Buba, Ibrahim Mohammed, Ibrahim Abba, Mamuda Shehu, Adamu Yaro, Mohammed Kyari, Ibrahim Babangida among others. Ali listed the patrons to include Bashir Yar’Adua who would be hitting the Oyo capital city with two fully armed teams and trucks load of supporters for the event.
Honourable Hadi Sirika who has played and won most of the tournaments with his high flying Rubicon team, is also expected in the Eleyele polo heaven.
It is also expected that Nigeria’s polo ambassador, who started his polo career in Ibadan over three decades ago, would be leading Kaduna Kakuri in the winners’ takes all race for the Ibadan Cup during the fiesta.
Major prizes to be won during the weeklong fiesta include the prestigious Ibadan Cup which as for decades remains the biggest event cup that pits high goal teams from Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina in some of the most memorable polo finals ever witnessed in Nigeria.
Other trophies at stake include Rotimi Cup, ArthurDay Cup, Saffidinne Cup, NFL Cup and other selected prizes and awards.
The pacy Nigerian polo tour that galloped off a new season with fanfare in the ancient kingdom of Katsina last August raced through Yola, cosmopolitan city of Kaduna last November and ended the year with the winter polo of Jos last December.
From the chilly city of Jos, the tour heads southward to Port Harcourt for the Niger Delta Peace Tournament that ended with fanfare last night.
