The glittering Access Bank and General Hassan Katsina cups were the center of attraction as defending champions, Abuja Rubicon, Lagos Machine and Kaduna Trappco led others jostling for top honours as the 2019 Niger Delta polo fiesta gallops-off in Port Harcourt.
At the time of going to press Polo Royals authoritatively confirmed that defending champions, Rubicon will be defending the General Hassan Cup title they have won a record four times. But this time around, there are up against two traditional and determined oppositions, Lagos machine and Kaduna Trappco Ranch.
Port Harcourt Adense Awuwariye who further confirmed that the prestigious polo festival billed to climax with fanfare on January 17, 2015, will see the participating teams jostling for the four major titles and a handful of subsidiary prizes.
These include the eventโs biggest cup, Gen Hassan Usman Katsina Cup, The President Cup, the Governorsโ Cup, the crowded T Y Danjuma Cup, and the Access Bank Cup final that usually pitch two high-goal teams in the grand finale.
Last year, the Access Bank Cup final, decided before a surging crowd that included top government officials business icons, traditional rulers and diplomats was undoubtedly the star match of the weeklong polo fiesta.
It was Swiss international team parading two South Africans and two Nigerians who made history as the first ever winners of the glittering Access Bank Cup polo prize in Port-Harcourt, defeating their Old Mutual opponents 9-7 after an explosive five chukkas final confrontation.
Other big winners of the prestigious 2017 polo extravaganza that prides itself as the biggest in the oil rich Niger Delta region are Abuja Rubicon who defended the General Hassan Cup, to emerge the overall champions thrice on the trot, and Almat Group team that clinched the second most wanted prize, the Governorโs Cup at first attempt.
Polo Royals checks further reveals that, this year, regulars and debuting teams from Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos Kano and host Port Harcourt will be matching talents and wits in what promises to be a week-long of intense, invigorating polo at the highest level.
The expected participation presence of top Nigerian stars and world-class professionals has already hype the festival to the high heavens as polo aficionados salivating at the prospect of yet another Port Harcourt high goal extravaganza.
