Abuja Polo set for 2016 Unity tourney

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The 2016 edition of the Unity Polo tournament has commenced in Abuja and expected to be rounded up on the 21st May.

The tournament has been conceived as part of activities to mark this year’s Democracy Day celebration.

Chairman of the Abuja Guards Polo Club, Senator Mohammed Kabiru Jibril, on Sunday confirmed that the 2016 edition of the glamorous polo fiesta would be the most competitive and exciting in years.

“The tournament which is in its 7th edition is intended to especially celebrate our continued peaceful democratic co-existence over the years.

“The fifth chukker polo club with its professional players along side the patron Adamu Attah and Babangida Hassan are also expected to challenge the Keffi ponies in the prestigious President’s cup this year,” he said.

The Chairman also thanked the various sponsors and donors for the unprecedented support to ensure that this year’s event was the best ever, adding that the tournament was being supported by corporate heavy weights in communication, banking, Oil & Gas and manufacturing sector of the economy.

Tournament Manager, Aliyu Umaru, also confirmed that everything was on ground for a successful hosting of the tournament.

Action recorded in a recent polo match…Abuja is set for another thriller again.

“Our pitch is in top shape and the location of the Guards Polo Club remains a tourist delight.

“Those who would be part of this historic event are guaranteed a most exciting and the most memorable time in Abuja,” he added.

Umar noted that the sponsors for this year’s tournament included: MTN, Sheraton, MRS, Dansa, among others.

In addition, organisations such as Sketchers would be supporting the event by given out lots of gifts and merchandise which will be auctioned in order to generate funds for charity.

He also added that the club would be partnering with a foremost charity organization based in Nigeria and which is affiliated with WHO and UNICEF with the support of the Nigeria Lottery Commission in order to raise funds geared towards the eradication of polio in the country.

Speaking in a Press Conference on Sunday, captain of Guards Polo Club (organiser of the event), Mustapha Junaidu who said the tournament will take place from 17th to 21st May, gave the names of the teams to include defending champions, Keffi Ponys and Max Air, amongst others.

He stated that no fewer than 14 teams and 54 players from the major polo centres like Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Zaria, Kaduna, Yola, Keffi, Port Harcourt, Bauchi and host Abuja have confirmed their readiness to vie for honours in the prestigious Unity Polo Tournament.

He said a total of about 250 to 300 horses would be participating in the tournament, adding that a couple of top rated professional players, including Fernando and Gonzalo Bourdieu from Argentina to mention a few would be in action during the week-long event.

The teams would be competing for four major championship prizes that include the Guards Challenge Cup, Guards Brigade Trophy, Legislative Shield and President’s Cup which is the event’s biggest title at stake during the annual event.

Junaidu noted that the defending champions of the President’s Cup, whose patron is Sen. Hadi Sirka would be hoping to cause an upset once again by beating their fierce rivals, Keffi Ponys to the title once again.

“Keffi Ponys on their part, whose patron is Hon. Ahmed Wadada won the Cup back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 editions and will be looking to wrestle back the title again from Max Air with Nigeria’s top rated player 4-goaler Bello Buba in the team,” he said.

Also speaking, Bunza Mohammed, the entertainment manager said all was set to ensure that the fans are well entertained during the tournament.

“We have loads of events lined up from barbeque, dinner and an after-party on the grand finale,” he said.

Also expected to grace the week-long polo fiesta are a long list of royal fathers, state governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, captains of industries as well as thousands of polo enthusiasts.