In the opening ceremony of the 2020 National Carnival Polo Tournament in Abuja, Twenty-eight teams were on the ground for the tourney which is holding at the Guards Polo Club expected to climax with the grand finale on Sunday.
This twenty teams involved are competing for honours in four Cups which are; the President’s Cup, the Legislative Shield, the Guards Challenge and FCT Minister’s Cup as the trophies are for competition in the high, intermediate, medium goal categories of competition at the tournament.
Tournament Manager, Mohammed Hayatu culled from his chat with NAN stated that this year’s event which is the ninth edition was the biggest tournament the club had ever hosted as he added that it was a dream come through for the club’s management.
He said, “this year’s tournament is a first of its kind, where we celebrate the Nigeria National Carnival which coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the country and it promises to be a very huge and successful one.”
“We have players who have come to grace this international event from Argentina, South Africa and other parts of the world as well as teams from different parts of the country, including Kaduna, Kano, Yola, to mention a few,” Hayatu said.
The Tournament Manager said the event was also special because it was the first time the club would actually be officially giving out trophies which are instituted in the club.
“Before now, the usual tradition was to give out trophies as souvenirs and then purchase new ones the next year, and so on but in a strong tradition of polo clubs, where the club attains a certain level in the society of polo, it is very important for a club to have its trophy.”
“The Georgian Cup, for example, which is the Kaduna Polo Club’s highest goal cup, is over 100 years old.
“The cup is also at the verge of being recognised by the Guinness Book of Records because of its long-term sponsorship by First Bank.”
“So, we hope to begin our sponsorship drive with the trophies we will be instituting at the club from this year. This is one of my greatest achievements as the tournament manager, ” he stated.
